History of Revolvers

[Stub]

Three revolvers were passed down to me recently. They were owned by my Great Grandfather.

I have attached a picture of all three revolvers as a thumbnail below.

I would like to learn more history on each of these revolvers.

Markings:

Largest
- "FOR 32 SMITH & WESSON CTGS" stamped on left side of barrel
- "WARNER ARMS CORPORATION NORWICH, CONN." stamped on top of barrel
- Serial Number: 3734 stamped on inside metal portion of grip
- appears to be .32 caliber

Mid-Size
- "FOREHAND MODEL 1901 HOPKINS & ALLEN ARMS CO. NORWICH, CT. U.S.A." stamped on top of barrel
- "F & W" molded on plastic portion of grip believed to stand for Forehand and Wadsworth
- Serial Number: C4656 stamped on bottom of grip
- appears to be .32 caliber

Smallest
- "PAT. MAR. 14. 76." stamped on top of barrel
- "COCK ROBIN" stamped on top of frame above cylinder believed to be a trade name used by the Hood Firearms Company on inexpensive pocket revolvers.
- Serial Number: 4612 stamped on bottom of grip
- appears to be .22 caliber

Questions:

(1) Where can I learn more about their history?
(2) Approximate Ages?
(3) Approximate Values?
(4) Whether they are safe to discharge ammunition?
(5) If so, what type of ammunition is suggested?
(6) What does "CTGS" stand for?
(7) Using the Serial Numbers, is there an online resource or any resource that will give me more information about these revolvers?

 

[Jim K]

I will try to answer your questions, but in no particular order.

Easy one first - "CTGS" means "cartridges". The designation for the cartridge is ".32 Smith & Wesson", a .32 caliber cartridge developed by S&W for their revolvers but used in guns by many other makers.

I know of no source of serial number information for those guns; there were no government record keeping requirements when those guns were made and as far as I know, none of the company records have survived.

None are valuable, especially as they are not in very good condition. My estimates would be in the area of $50-75 for each of them, about the minimum for any gun. Even in top condition, there is almost no collector interest.

I strongly advise against shooting those old guns. The .32 S&W is a weak cartridge, but still able to blow up a gun that is defective or badly worn. You could have them checked by a gunsmith, but the charge could be more than the guns are worth. The .22 revolver definitely should not be fired with any modern .22 Short or Long Rifle cartridge; something like the CB might be safe, but I strongly recommend against even that. (Remember, those guns are NOT steel, they are cast iron or wrought iron.)

On the age, there is only an approximation. The Warner Arms Co. revolver was made between about 1880 and 1917, when the company became Davis-Warner.

The Forehand and Wadsworth company made fairly good quality revolvers and when Wadsworth retired in 1890 became the Forehand Arms Co. In 1902, it was taken over by Hopkins and Allen who began putting on their own name in addition to the Forehand name, but kept up production for only a few years, so the gun dates from between 1902 and about 1908.

The Cock Robin may well have been a Hood product. It probably dates to around 1880.

That does not mean the guns are totally without interest. They represent an era when just about everyone went armed, and not just in the West. Hollywood has helped spread the myth that only "cowboys" and "bandits" were armed and that their handgun was always a Single Action Army Colt. In fact guns like that were a lot more common than the Colt (which would cost $17.00, a month's pay for a real cowboy, even if the ranch owner allowed his men to go armed, which many didn't). Those little revolvers and single shot pistols rested in millions of pockets and purses all over the country; they were inexpensive ($1.50 to $4.00), and were thought to be perfectly adequate for self defense. Most were never fired in a serious situation, but crime was a lot lower in those days, so they may have been an effective deterrent.

Jim

 

[Stub]

Appreciation

Jim,

I appreciate all of the many details in your response.

Thank you very much.

 

[TEDDY]

I believe the top gun to be forehand or ????.it should have smith logo.and it says for 32 s&w. most non smiths seem to have "for" in front of cal.al the top end look alike.I'v had them all bluebird/robin hood ect.and shot them.