Smith & Wesson 1880's 38 DA Pocket Revolver

Howdy

Without actually seeing your revolver, I can tell you that S&W never nickel plated their hammers or triggers. A nickel plated hammer and/or trigger are a sure sign of a refinish job, done by somebody other than S&W.
 
The serial number sequence for the first Model .38 double Action went from 1 thru 4000, so yes it is possible. but the bad news as Driftwood posted, it has been refinished, Pictures would help on the determination .
 
The revolver pictured is a Double Action .38 Second Model with a normal serial number range 4001-119000; 1880-1884.

I can only assume that part of the serial number was buffed away in the refinishing shop.
 
Yep, the first model has a straight backed sideplate that extends across the frame top to bottom, and no other model could have serial number 11.

As Bill says, that gun has been heavily buffed and badly plated. It has almost no collector value.

Jim
 
Howdy Again

Look at the seam where the side plate fits into the frame on your gun. See how much the edge of the side plate has been rounded over, very plainly visible in your photo. Now compare it to the side plate on the gun you linked too. The seam is almost invisible, just a hairline. That is how the gun should appear whether fresh from the factory, or refinished. The polisher who polished away rust and pitting on your gun had a heavy hand and rounded over the edge of the plate.

Here is a 3rd Model Double Action 38 that has not been refinished. It is far from pristine, but the seam around the side plate is still just a hairline. The Serial Number on this one is 1970XX and it shipped from S&W in June of 1888.

38DA3rdModel.jpg
 
Yup, replated ! I'd like to see it in person .The ends of hinge pin and screws so highly polished , even the color though that's hard to judge on a computer.
 
Not to mention that both the trigger and hammer have been nickel plated.

On a stock S&W gun, the trigger and hammer were case hardened, not plated.
 
Thank you all for your help. The serial number is in three location on the gun. (which I did not Know) on the back of the cylinder and on the bottom of the barrel latch. It is 116XX. These two numbers match.

I appreciate everyone help!

Dobbie
 
That confirms it as a Second Model, made 1880-1884.
Pretty early in that period, they made 115,000 of them in five years, sn 4001-119000, so they got to the 11000s pretty quick.
 
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