What gun is this??

[apachejack]

I posted before about this gun but didn't have the pics. Now I do and am wondering who made the gun and about what year. I know it says National Arms on the barrel but they went out of business in the 1800s. Maybe these pics will help someone tell me more about this gun.

 

[apachejack]

I guess the file size was too big, I will try again.

 

[apachejack]

Okay, I'll try again. Maybe these pictures will come up.

 

[Jim March]

Still too big.

 

[apachejack]

one picture at a time

Here is another one

 

[apachejack]

Another one

Here's another one

 

[apachejack]

And another one

The last one

 

[SDC]

"National Arms Co." was a trade-name used by the Meriden Firearms Manufacturing Company of Meriden, Connecticut, from 1895 until 1915; your revolver is their copy of the S&W Double Action 38.

 

[Jim March]

Huh. It's in WAY better condition than we usually see with this sort of thing.

If you're going to shoot it: I'd strongly recommend black-powder loads. We're seeing interest in the 38S&W in cowboy action shooting with some mild loads being made up for genuine 19th century critters like this.

Nothing says "oh God he's gonna blow his hand off!" like an ancient break-top of questionable QA even back then . Be careful, OK?

 

[apachejack]

Gentlemen, I thank you very much. Don't worry about it being shot, the man who owns it just wanted to know who and about when it was made. He is going to keep it for historic purposes. His dad gave it to him and niether of them knew what it was. I looked everywhere I knew to and couldn't find anything on it so again I say thank you.

 

[Eightball]

He might want to get one of those glass cases for the thing with a plaque stating what it is, when it was manufactured, calibre, and "BLACK POWDER ONLY", etc, so that some Yahoo doesn't come along, think "hey, nifty revolver", and then proceed to blow their hand off.

Just an idea. But geez that's in good condition for its age.

 

[wundudnee]

This is the revolver that your's was patterned after, a S&W top break .38 S&W. They were made in the late 1800s to early 1900s. There were several companys that copied this design. You can still find .38 S&W cartridges and they are loaded pretty weak because of all the old revolvers that are still out there. I have shot the other revolver pictured, it's a .32 S&W, made in 1898.

 

[apachejack]

I talked with him today and he said he didn't have any sentimental attachment to and he would sell it if it was worth a lot and keep it if was worth nothing. Sounds like he ought to be a gun show trader. I know him real well and he will probably put it in a case like eightball said and not let anyone shoot it. It is an interesting piece though.