Smith & Wesson Blued Double Action Revolver w/Scarce 6" Barrel

This is a 4th Model Double Action Revolver in Caliber 32 S&W with a scarce blued finish with an even scarcer 6" barrel.  While that barrel length doesn't sound very long on paper, on such a compact pocket model, it scales out to something similar to a Colt SAA Buntline revolver.  We've often wondered who would order a pocket revolver with such a long barrel...they seem to contradict one another...but my guess is someone who either liked to plink or needed to a small-bore" Dirty Harry Special" to ward off critters ran-sacking their summer gardens.  As many a Southern lamented over the years, "squirrels taking a single bite out all your prized "Maters" (translation: tomatoes) can get quite frustrating!  I.E. My 90 y.o. grandmother still keeps a Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun next to her kitchen door for just such occasions.  Well, that's just a guess as to who might have wanted one of these back in the 1890's.   

The 4th Model .32 DA was built from 1883-1909 (SN#'s approx. 43,000-283,000).  Only those below approx. 209,000 are Pre-1898 antiques. This one is just under the cut-off in the 205,000 range and its one of the Pre-1898 Antique ones you're going to find with the famous S&W logo on the left side of the frame. The vast majority of S&W's with this logo are post-1898 modern built right up to today over 111 years later.

Overall condition is NRA Antique Fine.  We checked and this gun has all matching numbers throughout.  Barrel patent dates run up to 1889.  Overall condition is NRA Antique 65% original blue with the balance worn to a grey patina. Hammer and Trigger still exhibit 25% discernable original case colors .  Very Good checkered hard rubber grips with S&W logo.  Barrel still locks up snugly to the action.  Both Double and Single action are still working. All right, the vast majority of you guys already know all of this...but inevitably, someone who has missed the disclaimer on the first page of this website always wants to know if they can fire it!  (Eyes-rolling....sighhhhhh!)  For obvious reasons, a good working action should not be construed as an endorsement that this revolver is safe to fire.  There's nothing we're trying to hide...this is a good gun...but given its: 1. Rarity 2. Value as a Collectible  3. Being over 110+ years old 4. Constructed of inferior 19th century steel (remember the Titanic with its unsinkable steel hull!) 5. Designed for Black Powder only and not structurally made to withstand the pressures of modern smokeless powder cartridges (yes, there's a very good reason why S&W went from top break frames to solid ones with swing-out cylinders), this is being sold as an Antique collectible only. OK, to 99.9% of you, thanks for bearing with me on that!  Bore is in Good condition overall that's still fairly bright with strong rifling with some scattered pitting...typical of a 19th century black powder weapon.  A very respectable example of an early blued S&W Pocket DA with a scarce 6" barrel.

Item# 1028

SOLD