[fuzebox40]

I'm thinking of possibly purchasing this gun but I'm not familiar enough with these to know when I'm over paying. I still need to get the serial number so I can try to date it. Can anyone tell me an approximate value with the little bit of information I have now? And maybe verify what it is by the pictures? Thanks for any help.

This is the description I've been given which I haven't verified:

"pre 1898 Smith & Wesson model one second issue, nickel plated with walnut grips. It indexes flawlessly and has very little play, chambered in .22 short, has all original matching numbers and parts and nothing has been changed."

 

[rhmc24]

I'm no expert or specialist but I have a few. Yours I might pay as much as $400 depending on hands-on exam, but hopefully $300. All these in that price range, except the engraved on which was a trade.

 

[fuzebox40]

Thanks. I haven't had it my hands yet but I plan to hook up with the owner on Thursday or Friday. This info is a huge help to me. The owner is tight on funds and wants to work this into another gun deal that we're already working on. It's risky business without some sense of market value. I don't know if I'll keep it or resell it but for now it may help facilitate the bargaining process.
Any advice on things to consider closely on inspection would be appreciated too, otherwise I'll look at it as I would any older gun, i.e. headspace play, timing lockup, overall condition. Any comment on age of the weapon or desirable calibers, etc.? Also can anyone verify by these pictures that it is a model 1 issue 2 and if you care to elaborate further, what that means to the collector.
The finish looks so-so I guess, flaking is visible on the handle as well as the more obvious places with the worst of it being the cylinder, almost completely gone.
Thanks again.

 

[Jim K]

It is an S&W revolver, Model 1, Second issue. They made about 117,000 from 1860-1868, so they are fairly common. The Model 1 was S&W's first revolver; the First Issue, or variation, was made from 1857 to 1860 when the improved Second Issue came out. The Third Issue was made from 1868 to 1881.

They were made for .22 Short but modern smokeless powder cartridges are too powerful and may damage the gun, so please don't fire it; its value is as a collector's item, not as a using gun.

Jim

 

[fuzebox40]

Thanks for the added information Jim. I'm really not that interested in taking this piece for my own collection but it would be a byproduct of this other deal. You say they're pretty common so I can't help but wonder if I'd have a hard time reselling to recupe my investment. I realize sometimes it's hard to say but if I could trouble you for your thoughts, could I easily pass it on if I don't invest more than say $250 worth of my goods into it?

 

[Jim K]

Rhmc2 gave you the approximate value for what you showed us. I think you would be on the edge if you invest $250. Remember that the lousy economy is probably the reason the current owner is selling, and you might have a hard time reselling it at a profit unless you are willing to wait a while until things improve (if ever!).

One thing in your favor is that it is an antique, so few, if any, federal or state laws affect its sale. So a sale to an individual might be better than sale to a dealer.

Jim

 

[fuzebox40]

Update. I ended up trading this 20 gauge single H&R for the S&W. I had $150 in the shotgun. The model 1 feels pretty good, not much slop for a piece this old, timing seems on. The teeth look really good on the cylinder, that's unusual, and everything functions well. Without actually firing it I expect it's a good shooter, and I wouldn't be afraid to fire it if not for being an antique and putting unwarranted risk to the gun, it's retired of course.
So after inspecting it I think it's a good one over all and I feel pretty good with this deal. Thank you guys for your thoughts and advice on this to. I had the shotgun sold for 150 cash but this seemed a worthy way to go. I'm undecided weather to keep it or resale at this point, it'll come to me but I'm sure it would move quicker than the shotgun did and a better investment as a keeper.

 

[fuzebox40]

H&R