Please help identify this Rossi revolver

O

oceanuser

Inactive
Hi Everyone.
I am going to be purchasing a Rossi 5 shot, .38 special revolver.
Its my first handgun and I am a total novice.
Apparently its new ( I have my doubts ) but I would like to know more about the revolver ( model, history, is it still being made or is it an older design, etc ).
Please see the links below for pictures of the revolver and let me know what you guys think. Any information you can provide about this revolver will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance

http://s16.postimg.org/ru0zcqghh/Rossi1.jpg
http://s18.postimg.org/dxge589yx/Rossi2.jpg
 

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If this is your first hand gun, I would suggest you reconsider and buy something with a longer barrel. Snubnose revolvers are very hard to shoot accurately for people who are not very experienced with them. I bought one and practiced A LOT and got to where I could hit a barn from the inside :(. I got rid of it and bought an semiauto with a longer barrel. As for the gun, my friend has a 3" barrel Rossi that I really like. BTW, I do not know the model. Maybe it says on the cylinder crane (hinge)?
 
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Check the revolver to make sure the timing is ok and that nothing rattles (too much). Rossi made a cheap, but decent revolver. By that I mean they worked, but won't win any accuracy contests.

My first gun was an INI (Brazillian company) 5-shot knock-off of a S&W J-frame. It looked a lot like the gun in the picture, but in nickel (not a bad nickel job either). I heard that INI and Rossi may have even made guns in the same factory - don't know for sure.

Anyway, the revolver in the picture should serve you well for self defense purposes. It's a cheap knock-off of a Smith and Wesson Chiefs Special, like my INI was. I shot the heck out of my INI revolver and it worked like a champ.

My guess is that these guns haven't been made for years, but I don't know for sure.

Also, that gun is not new - you can tell by the turn line on the cylinder. I bet if you open the crane you will see evidence around the barrel and cylinder holes that it has been shot too.

Just don't overpay for it, and it'll be ok for your first gun.
 
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Apparently its new ( I have my doubts )
Click to expand...

I see a turn ring on the cylinder, and the grips are not original. You do well to doubt.

Its my first handgun and I am a total novice.
Click to expand...
'

A snubby .38 is not a good place to start. IMHO, YMMV, Insert standard disclaimer here.

----edit to add----

If it was me, I'd probably go for it, assuming the price was right. What's the seller looking for out of it?

Read through this thread, and the document Jim March links to: THE REVOLVER CHECKOUT - 10 year anniversary update. . He walks through what to look for and how to check out a used revolver.

And I strongly suspect this one is used, at least somewhat. The turn ring, for one thing. On the pic showing the left hand side of the gun, I see what looks like a small spot of rust on the back edge of the cylinder.

For another thing, the barrel markings on your picture look different from the current picture in Leejack's post.

The grip is a Pachmayr Compac, which is certainly not a bad thing.
 
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just my opinion , but the Rossi is a poor choice . They have a reputation of sub par quality . you dont mention what the intended use is going to be . If its just plinking with the buddies i would suggest a good 22 like the ruger semi autos or a browning buck mark . If it is home defense and is rarely going to be shot you want to make sure it will go bang every time you want it to . I would save up a few more bucks and get a smith and wesson but what ever you do get something that you can lock/unlock easy .
 
First, no way it's new and the grips are Pachmayr (that's a good thing).

The current model of the Rossi 5 shot .38 special is the 35102, here's a pic. Lot's of people seem to like them and they sell new at Academy for $269, you can use that for comparison.

R35102.jpg
 
It's a 68, I have it's shiny stainless brother, the 88 in my underwear drawer at home. Was given to me new in, I think, 1995. For years I used it as a carry gun and abused it horribly with reloads that should have never come near it. For the past decade it's been used to introduce new shooters to snubbies and fed a diet of light wadcutters. Still tight as can be and more accurate than any other snubby I've owned.
But, even tho I'm a big fan they are worth about $200 tops and that one is pretty well used. And then there is the fact that someone is selling you a line of bull about it being new. I never give a liar money.
 
If it's cheap enough you can take a chance on it. I have an older Rossi with out the shroud around the ejector rod( I bought new for 150.00). It is as accurate as S&W guns I've owned but I don't shoot it much. All of the older well used Rossi revolvers I've seen have been rather loose. If you plan to shoot it a lot buy an S&W or a Ruger.
 
Dang, this makes me regret getting rid of my m88..... But I was set on owning a .45 so I swapped it for a hi point .45. I did get a good bit of ammo with it though, but I still miss it.
 
oceanuser said:
Hi Everyone.
I am going to be purchasing a Rossi 5 shot, .38 special revolver.
Its my first handgun and I am a total novice.
Apparently its new ( I have my doubts ) but I would like to know more about the revolver ( model, history, is it still being made or is it an older design, etc ).
Please see the links below for pictures of the revolver and let me know what you guys think. Any information you can provide about this revolver will be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance

http://s16.postimg.org/ru0zcqghh/Rossi1.jpg
http://s18.postimg.org/dxge589yx/Rossi2.jpg
Attached Images
Click to expand...
The gun is a Rossi® Mdl 68 38 Special; made in the 1980-1998 time frame. The same gun in stainless steel is a Mdl 88. These guns were imported by INTERARMS in Alexandria, VA. While the model 68 was a fine gun it has no warranty. You would be better served by buying the model 35102 that others have suggested. That Rossi® is made by Taurus® and has a lifetime warranty; the warranty is not on the purchaser, but the gun!. The current Rossi® revolvers made by Braztech, a Taurus® subsidiary; are good guns and will serve you well. The new Rossi® Mdl 35102 will provide yeoman service!
 
OP,
I have the same gun and grips in front of me now. Model 68. Grips are Pachmayr Compac. I bought it new about 25 years ago when Navy Arms was still in Ridgefield, NJ. It hasn't been fired that much but so far has been 100%. While certainly not a Smith in terms of fit and finish, I think it is a better gun than its rep would indicate.
FWIW
YMMV
 
I have the .357 version of this Rossi. It was also my first handgun. It took me about 500 practice shots and a lot of dry firing to become accurate with it. My only other experience with firearms was the rifles and shotguns I shot as a kid a very long time ago. So, like you, I am a novice to handguns.
I think that since you have no previous experience with handguns your not bringing any bad shooting habits or preconceived negative ideas about using a short barreled revolver.
Get the Rossi. Practice with it . Learn how to hold it steady while dry firing it. Have fun at the range with it. It's a nice gun to shoot. It isn't that difficult to learn how to be accurate with.
I started off being able to hit the side of a barn with it. It was doing it consistently that has to be learned.
Yeah ..... Rossi isn't the high end gun that you will be referred to but it isn't bottom of the barrel either. Plus..... if your gun needs to be repaired Rossi does it at no charge to you . You only have to pay for shipping it to the factory in Florida. ( Cost me $55.00 to send in mine ) . I got it back in 8 days and it was better then when I bought (used).
 
How much is being asked for this gun? I don't think I would pay more than 175.00 for it at the most. If that is the original box then the model number should be on it somewhere. There is clearly rust and pitting visible in the pics.
Before I would buy it I would try to get it looked at by a smith or at least someone who knows about revolvers.
 
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