Got the itch for one of the old revolvers

[cbourbeau32]

I've got an itch to get one of the older break barrel revolvers in either 32 or 38caliber. Is S&W the only one that makes one and what is a good price for one in "shooting" condition?

Thanks for any replies.

Charlie

 

[Tallball]

There were a lot of them. The list of top break 32's in particular would be long. You might look for Harrington & Richardson. I see them for sale on GB often. I don't recall the prices, but I would expect to get one that was a decent shooter for under $200. No one seems to want the 32 S&W or 38 S&W anymore.

 

[mnrivrat]

Iver Johnson and Harrington Richardson are the two main producers of the top break revolvers.
Besides these two companies Smith and Wesson and many other brands were produced. I would agree that you should be able to find one in shooting condition for under $200 but be aware they are prone to spring breakage and because their metal was mostly not heat treated until the later production guns, whey also wore out quickly.

 

[bannockburn]

At the high end: vintage S&W revolvers and modern replicas made by Uberti.
At the middle range: Webley and Enfield revolvers.
At the lower end: H&R and Iver Johnson revolvers.

 

[danjet500]

Not a .32 or .38 but it is an Iver Johnson.

 

[cbourbeau32]

Thanks everyone! I'll start looking.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Smith and Wesson was the first company to make Top Break revolvers, starting with their large frame 44 caliber American model in 1870. Later, after S&W's patents ran out, other companies got in the game, mostly with small 32 and 38 caliber pocket pistols.

S&W always made the highest quality Top Breaks, but if you want something for shooting modern Smokeless ammunition I am going to recommend you look for an Iver Johnson.

Around 1900 Iver Johnson completely redesigned their line of revolvers with better steels, specifically geared towards Smokeless powder.

This 38 caliber Iver Johnson Safety Hammerless was designed for Smokeless Powder. I paid $100 for it a few years ago, but it would probably cost more today.

There are three ways to tell a Smokeless IJ model from an earlier Black Powder model.

1. The little owl on the grips faces backwards.
2. If you remove the grips, the hammer spring is a coil spring
3. The notches on the cylinder for the bolt have a flat surface on both the leading edge and the trailing edge.





This is an earlier Black Powder era Iver Johnson.

1. Notice the little owl faces forward.
2. If you remove the grips, the hammer spring is a leaf spring.
3. The cylinder notches only have a flat surface for the bolt on one surface, the hand keeps the cylinder from rotating backwards.




***************

I know several posters will probably mention that modern Smokeless 38 S&W and 32 S&W ammo is loaded light enough for the older guns. Personally, I would never fire any of my old S&W Top Breaks with modern Smokeless ammo, only ammo loaded with Black Powder.



S&W 32 Safety Hammerless






S&W 32 Single Action






S&W 38 Single Action, 2nd Model






S&W 38 Double Action






S&W 38 Safety Hammerless, 3rd Model

 

[joem1945]

I have several top breaks. Mostly .38 S&W cartridge but I have some .22 LR also. S&W, H&R, US revolver, and perhaps a colt. If you get one you might consider reloading for it.

 

[Bill B.]

No one seems to want the 32 S&W or 38 S&W anymore.

I enjoy these old revolvers but the sad fact of the matter is there is coming a time very quickly ammo will no longer be available.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I enjoy these old revolvers but the sad fact of the matter is there is coming a time very quickly ammo will no longer be available.

Why do you think that?

.32 S&W is made by Rem, Win, and Magtech.

.38 S&W is made by Rem, Win, Magtech, Fiocchi and Privi.

Neither is a Walmart caliber, but should be available for a long time if 5 companies are making such products.

 

[cbourbeau32]

IF, I found a good deal on a black powder model are they as easy to load for as a smokeless powder model? Do they use the same brass, just BP instead of smokeless?

 

[.455_Hunter]

At the high end: vintage S&W revolvers and modern replicas made by Uberti.
At the middle range: Webley and Enfield revolvers.
At the lower end: H&R and Iver Johnson revolvers.

I would hardly call the Webley and Enfield products "middle range". Their quality is equivalent and strength/durability far superior to the S&W break opens.

The Iver Johnson/H&R guns were the Taurus/Chapter/Keltec of their day- generally workable, but nothing that would stand-up to much shooting.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

IF, I found a good deal on a black powder model are they as easy to load for as a smokeless powder model? Do they use the same brass, just BP instead of smokeless?

No, you usually need a Black Powder compatible bullet lube on your bullets with Black Powder, or else you get hard fouling that is difficult to remove.

However, some of the BP substitutes can be loaded with conventional bullets with conventional bullet lubes. American Pioneer Powder can be used with conventional modern bullet lubes. Don't try Pyrodex, it is worst than real Black Powder.

 

[Bill B.]

Why do you think that?

Try finding .32 S&W short. I have seen basically the 38/40, 32-20, .38 Colt Short & .38 Colt Long disappear in my lifetime. The .38 Colt short case has made a bit of a comeback because the case is being used in moon clips by 8 round .357 mag. competition shooters. The 44/40 was all but gone till Cowboy Action brought it back. The popularity of autos is killing these old revolver rounds IMO and thats all it is .... JMO.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Try finding .32 S&W short. I have seen basically the 38/40, 32-20, .38 Colt Short & .38 Colt Long disappear in my lifetime. The .38 Colt short case has made a bit of a comeback because the case is being used in moon clips by 8 round .357 mag. competition shooters. The 44/40 was all but gone till Cowboy Action brought it back. The popularity of autos is killing these old revolver rounds IMO and thats all it is .... JMO.

Interesting. The LGS I was at last week had two different .32 S&W (Rem and Magtech), two different .38 S&W (Win and Privi), three different .32/20 (Win, Black Hills, Ultramax) and two .38/40 (Win and Black Hills).

 

[gbran]

Back in the early 60's, dad had a top break 9 shot .22. I used it probably into the early 80's. I need to call him, find out what it was.

 

[bluetopper]

How about a Uberti Schofield or a Beretta Laramie?

 

[Kaeto]

Here is my pair of Harrington & Richardson Safety Hammerless in .38 S&W. The H&Rs can use smokeless if on the side of the barrel it says " .38 S&W Ctg ". I got this pair for a total of $95.00.

 

[Clark]

My grandfather immigrated from Sweden to the Alaskan Gold rush ~ 1905 and bought an Iver Johnson hammerless break action 38 S&W.
We inherited it, and a box of black powder cartridges.
I started buying the break actions at gunshows 15 years ago.
I typically paid $35 if I had to fix the trigger spring and $50 for working condition.
38s were worth more than 32s.
I have Goforth's books.
I have a few other brands.

They are generally junk.
There are a lot of them out there.
Normally one would "buy at a small market and sell at a big market".
But with these, someone who inherited them does not know the value, and assumes it has the value of a normal gun.
So it is cheapest to buy from a knowledgeable person, who knows these are junk of little value and sells them cheap.

If you want a GOOD revolver, look at double action Colts. A 100 year old Police Positive may cost $300, but it will lock up tight and shoot the lights out.
Try to buy those from the neighbor lady who doesn't know a Colt from a break action.

 

[Panzerschwein]

If you want a real break top, look here:

http://www.uberti.com/top-break-revolver

 

[ZVP]

I have a H&R 1906 .22 that I shoot CB Caps only thru.
Great fun gun!
ZVP