Need help with history of gun

[apachejack]

I need help with the history of a top break .38. There is nothing on the gun other than National Arms, New York. It is nickel with a five shot wheel. The gun locks up under the rear sight and is double action. I know Colt bought out a company named National Arms in 1870 and before that it was Moore until 1863 but all the info shows black powder guns and this is a cartridge gun. Does anyone know anything about these revolvers. I will try to post pics but this gun belongs to a friend and I can't get pics until a day or so. Thanks for any help.:banghead:

 

[apachejack]

Come on, somebody has to know something about this gun. The serial number is 144***. It is old and as I said I will try to get some pics of it..

 

[Ash]

The problem is that so many small pocket revolvers were made in that time and labeled under so many names that it is very tough to determine who made what. Odds are that it was made by Harrington & Richardson, Iver Johnson, Hopkins & Allen, or Hood. Post a photograph. With that, we can perhaps get an idea of similar models.

If you think that is tough, try old double barrel shotguns.

Ash

 

[bannockburn]

apachejack

As Ash posted, many of the larger makers, such as H&R, Iver Johnson, and Hopkins and Allen, used brand names to market their guns. Aetna Arms was a brand name for H&R, while the U.S. Revolver Co. was where Iver Johnson offered lesser quality guns of their own manufacture. At some point, Hopkins and Allen had over 100 different brand names for sale. It could be that National Arms was a stand alone company; but it's also possible that they were just another brand name for one of the larger manufacturers.

 

[apachejack]

Gentlemen, I thank you for the help and I am still trying to get a picture of the gun so I can post it here. I know that will help a great deal-- maybe.