Found in Backyard

[mesinge2]

I recently purchased an empty lot adjacent to my house and today I was clearing the lot and found this in the dirt under some scrub pines.






The bore looks like a .38 I think (pic below)



What the heck is it?

 

[zxcvbob]

Looks like an old Smith and Wesson. I'm not sure what they called that one; if was hammerless it would be a "New Departure" (about a 4th model, or maybe 5th.) Probably chambered for .38 S&W cartridge.

I'd clean it up and try to shoot it (if it was a different brand, like H&R or Iver Johnson, I might be more careful -- or shoot it with a looong string)

 

[Magnumite]

Can't quite tell, but it may also be an Iver Johnson 38 S&W caliber. That would NOT be the 38 Special.

 

[mesinge2]

I have a webley mkIV. That's the same round if I'm right, I have that ammo.


I might try the looooong sting idea.


I might....

 

[mausgun]

Don't shoot it!

That is not a Smith & Wesson, Harrington Richardson or an Iver Johnson. Those three are the only ones I'd even consider shooting (I have two H&Rs, a 1902 Premier Hammerless and a standard Premier c.1930). What you have is probably a foreign knockoff. Giveaway is the odd grip logo and the riveted/pinned frame hinge. These guns are known as "suicide specials" for all sorts of reasons. Destroy it.

 

[Suwannee Tim]

Some LEOs will give big bux for something like this. Completely untraceable. If you see what I mean. An old house was demolished in my neighborhood once and after it was gone I walked around the site and found a 1911, a Remington Rand in maybe a little better shape than what you have. It was loaded and I couldn't get the action open to clear it up. I didn't want to take a hammer to a loaded gun so I clamped it in a milling machine and ran a drill bit down the bore and drilled a hole through the bullet through which I shook the powder out. The penetrating oil killed the primer. I had to use a hammer to get it apart. I gently sandblasted it and painted it with epoxy paint and replaced the barrel with a take-off I had and some other internal parts. Looked pretty good considering. Worked good too. I was buying a car and we couldn't agree on the price until I threw in the .45. As always when I let a gun go, I regretted it.

 

[MrBorland]

Looks like an old Spanish topbreak to me. Orbea maybe. I can't see the insignia at the top of the grip well enough to tell.

http://www.littlegun.be/arme espagnole/ancien artisan/a orbea hermanos gb.htm

 

[Maj Dad]

The Original Saturday Night Special

I have one similar to it - mine is a Forehand & Wadsworth - that was my Grandfather's "gettin' out of town gun" as he described it. Firing it is not remotely an option! Interesting old relic from the turn of the century, and that's about it...

 

[mausgun]

Close, but I don't think so.

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[mesinge2]

When I got it open it was loaded with three live cartriges and two fired cases.

Nasty-looking green-brown cartriges; It was very hard to get them out. I had to use a cleaning rod and I kept adding constant pressure until they poped out. I had the rod against the ground just in case. I did not what my hand on the end of the rod.

I threw the live ones out immediately. Its a rim-fire.

By-the-way, do they still give money for gun buy-backs?

 

[Old Fuff]

Without doing a lot of research, I think its a Spanish copy of a Smith & Wesson D.A. 38, probably made by an unknown maker in Eibar or possibly Trocaola (a Spanish Co.). Likely made during the late 1800's or early 1900's and sold through some U.S. mail order house. It should make an excellent paperweight.

A tip-off is the stud for a lanyard ring - popular in Europe but not here. Obviously someone took the ring off.

 

[XavierBreath]

I'm thinking Old Fuff is correct about the make.

Now I hate to rain on a party, but I suggest you take your find to the local police station. The only thing worse than being in possession of a stolen gun is being in possession of a stolen gun that was used in a crime. The history behind this revolver could be anything. The fact that it had two fired rounds and was tossed into a vacant lot is rather unusual. It could also be the key to solving a crime that leads to closure for some family.

Get a reciept. Make it clear that you would like to keep it if the gun comes back clean.

 

[mesinge2]

The only thing worse than being in possession of a stolen gun is being in possession of a stolen gun that was used in a crime. [...] The fact that it had two fired rounds and was tossed into a vacant lot is rather unusual. It could also be the key to solving a crime that leads to closure for some family.

Get a reciept. Make it clear that you would like to keep it if the gun comes back clean.

I'll do just that; I'll bring it to the sheriff's sub-station near me.

I doubt that they can identify it, there is no SN that I can see nor are there any markings left on the weapon. I can't even see the rifling that well (but that could be lead build up, rust, or mud become stone ). Also, the rear sight is all but gone.

 

[Motodeficient]

Cool, keep us updated!

 

[mesinge2]

I can believe it was just sitting out there. I almost hit it with the ax I was clearing those pines with.

 

[janobles14]

you might want to run it by the local police station. heck it may have been used in some historic crime! be really worth something!

 

[Jim K]

It is Spanish, the trademark is Crucelegui Hermanos. Value is about as close to nil as you can get, and putting any time or money into it won't change that.

A lot of those guns were sold in Latin America, often passed off as Smith & Wessons. If you are close to the Mexican border, it may have come in from that direction.

I guess turning it in would be the right thing to do as it might have been used in a crime, but probably not a recent one, as those guns have not been made for nearly a century. Another possibility is to see if there are gun buyback programs in your area offering $100 "to get a gun off the street"; if so, take the money and run.

Jim

 

[David E]

Take in the rounds, too, if you can find them in the trash. The bullets themselves might help solve a crime if the rifliing can't.

Or, at least, they may be able to determine that John Doe #84 was shot with that gun, which would be something they didn't know before.

 

[CosmicGrooves]

Cool old gun!

 

[buddah]

Gun looks like it may have a few bodies on it. Trade it in an a local police gun amnesty program and get some $$ for it.

 

[sw282]

Make a shadow box frame for it. With fired and unfired rounds displayed. Hang it on the wall in your gun room. Great "What If" confersation piece

 

[Freezing Hot]

That's pretty neat. I'd go the conversation piece route if it comes back clean.
Or talk to some of the C&R folks.

 

[mausgun]

mesinge2:

When I got it open it was loaded with three live cartriges and two fired cases.

Nasty-looking green-brown cartriges; It was very hard to get them out. I had to use a cleaning rod and I kept adding constant pressure until they poped out. I had the rod against the ground just in case. I did not what my hand on the end of the rod.

I threw the live ones out immediately. Its a rim-fire.

By-the-way, do they still give money for gun buy-backs?

You sure it's a rimfire?
If so, it's not likely a .38. Possibly a .41.
​

(o)(-)
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[Rawb77]

The show box conversation piece sounds like a sweet idea! Could make up some big long story about it to tell grandkids down the road about your days in the wild west when you fought alongside the sheriff and kept the small town of Sweetwater Serenity safe from the evil Redleg Gang who was led by Conrad Corral the one eyed sharpshooter!

 

[Big Bill]

I bet someone was killed with that gun and the perp threw it away. I think potentially you've got a valuable gun there. I'd take it to the police and tell them about it and see what they tell you to do. Whatever you do, don't clean it!!!