Pistol Identification

Kukri

Inactive
Hello

I need help in identifying a pistol that my grandfather left me when he died. It is a Smith and Wesson and has this writing on top " Smith and Wesson Springfield MASS USA Pat ID Jan 24 55 July 11. 65 August 24 69 Reissue July 25.71 May 11 82 Jan. 5 92"

That is what I could make out on the top. The last dates are pretty sketchy. The writing is small print and the nickel is totally off. I am pretty sure of the words, but the dates are hard to make out. If anybody knows or thinks theyu know or can turn me to a source to find out what it is, it would be greatly appreciated.
 

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Looks like some version of a Schofield to me. Do a search on that name and see what you turn up. Why the rubberband?
 
Sorry, Blitz, not even close to being a Schofield.

From the relative size, it looks to be a .38 Double Action. From the patent dates, I'd say either a 4th or 5th model.

What's the serial number, Kukri? From that I can tell you what model and approximately the year of manufacture.
 
OK, my bad on caliber.

It's a .32 Double Action, then.

The shape of the trigger extension and the serial number pegs it as a 4th Model, made between 1883 and 1909.

Supica and Nahaus don't have any breakdown other than the made between information.

However, doing a little extrapolation, I'd say that your gun was easily made sometime between 1893 and 1895.
 
What a coincidence. I'm holding the same pistol right now. Same grips, markings and all. It's a .32 double action only. I got mine in a small holster when my uncle passed away. It was his father's who was a New York City police detective during the first decade of the 20th century. (he was a Irishman as hard as that may to believe :D ). Anyway the serial number on mine is 45,3XX. I always wondered when it was made.
 
Xtar,

Yours is actually fairly easy to date to a specific year -- 1883.

By serial number, it is one of the LAST 100 or so 4th models made, according to Supica and Nahaus.

4th Model production ended in 1883 at serial 43,405.
 
Mike Irwin

Do you think a rubberband would help the trigger pull on my EIG or early model pre-ban charter arms. That's a new trick to me. Have you ever seen it before?

PRE-BAN CHARTER ARMS? At a gun show today I saw a Beretta 92F labeled as "pre-ban Beretta". If that clown has a pre ban Beretta then I damn sure have a pre-ban charter arms. LOL
 
Well, my guess is that the rubberband trick doesn't improve the trigger pull, it either assists a serious weakened mainspring, or one that is simply missing altogether.
 
Actually, I use the rubberband to help pull back to trigger so that it feels like lighter trigger pull. It is hard to pull the trigger. It must be like 10 pounds of trigger pull. Although I will likely take off the rubberbands when or if I can shoot it.
 
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