Smith and Wesson help

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paradigm76

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Hi guys,

I inherited some guns from my grandfather via my uncle who passed away recently. I have a handgun I would like some background information on and maybe a value for insurance reasons. I originally posted in a different section so here is the link to that with pictures. Thank you for any feedback and info you can give me.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1130881-Lets-try-this-again-45-Smith-and-Wesson-help-please
 
The pic isn't imbedded.

...never mind, I caught up with you in the pistols/revolvers thread. Nice revolver BTW, it's worth a penny or two, and don't you dare ream that cylinder to shoot .45acp, leave it as is...original please. There are too many "bubba's" destroying history as we speak. You can find or make ammo. (steer clear of Fiocchi, until they sort out their over/undercharging issues though) "Kabooms" and "Squib loads" have been reported here from those using this ammo of late.
 
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That is a collector my friend...and very hard to replace. Insure accordingly. Get some ammo and let her bark, at least a cylinders worth. The smile on your face will last a week, trust me on this. :)

It doesn't look like its been shot much, how's the bore? Clean and oil the internals please.
 
I never seen my grandfather ever fire this gun and neither has my father or me so I would say it wasn't used much at all. Its been stored in a cool dry place and oiled up. Any idea on a value to insure it?
 
Not really, quite a bit will depend on those inspectors marks on the bottom of the "Stocks" {as the grip panels are referred to}. Finding out who "E.A." is will be the key to valuing and dating the revolver. If I were you, I would email Smith and Wesson with your pics attached and ask them for a history break down. They will tell you when the gun was made, who the gun was sold to (including government military contract) and where the gun was sold.

Like I said, if lost or stolen the chances of replacing it with something even close to suitable would be a daunting task (leaving aside the family history for a moment which would be lost forever:(). If it were mine, I would go to S&W for the paperwork and then insure it for between $2,000- $2,500. Now understand yours may not be worth that, but Insurance is about having enough reimbursed cash to replace the item...with $2,500 at least you'd have a fighting chance of separating another one from someone, if you were to find that "someone". Just my opinion.
While I'm throwing opinions around, I'd have to shoot it. At least a cylinders worth. I'd also stock pile ammo for it in the event .455 becomes a thing of the past within our lifetime. That way, if used wisely, several generations can still get the thrill of shooting (at least a cylinders worth) of GGGGG Granddad's six shooter. :) Get molds as well...'cause you never know when they'll come in handy.
 
I found out that there should be 3 spots where the serial number is located and found the last one under the barrel, the number matches the other two but this one has what looks to be a B and then a space and then the serial number, anyone have an idea what the B stands for?
 
paradigm76 said:
I found out that there should be 3 spots where the serial number is located and found the last one under the barrel, the number matches the other two but this one has what looks to be a B and then a space and then the serial number, anyone have an idea what the B stands for?
Click to expand...

In this case,
"B" stands for "blued finish"

Alternatively,
"N" stands for "nickel finish"
 
Haven't looked at mine in a while, but there might be a (4th) number stamped on the underside of the ejector star too.
If you look carefully, one of the grip panels will have the serial number written in pencil on the back.
R
 
paradigm76 said:
Hi guys,

I inherited some guns from my grandfather via my uncle who passed away recently. I have a handgun I would like some background information on and maybe a value for insurance reasons. I originally posted in a different section so here is the link to that with pictures. Thank you for any feedback and info you can give me.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1130881-Lets-try-this-again-45-Smith-and-Wesson-help-please
Click to expand...

Second Model Hand Ejectors in. 455 trade in the $500-$800 range.

They can usually be found from lightly used to flat brand new (and I mean FLAT BRAND New).

Some 73,000ish were produced for British, Canadian and commercial orders from 1915-1917.

They can be found with Canadian DCP proofs, but as a matter of trivia these are NOT Canadian contracted guns, rather they are guns which were inspected by Canadian Military inspectors on behalf of the British government.
 
Blued finish refers to the controlled rust/oxidization staining of the steel. It's what makes a blued gun the colour it is, there was another method of "browning" the barrel of rifles similar in process to bluing.
A firearm is generally either blued, nickel plated, stainless steel, parkerized, or now a day's powder coat "painted", or "case hardened" (gives a rainbow effect to the steel during the hardening of it.")

Basically the steel is polished and immersed in a "bluing" solution (which is clear). Upon contact with the solution the metal becomes stained (blue/black). The piece is removed from the solution, washed and polished again only to be immersed again in the solution. The more cycles the metal goes through, the richer the look of the bluing.
M1935A-RustBlue-01.jpg
...Here we see rust bluing in process, once it is polished the stain of the metal will take on this appearance...
M1935A-RustBlue-FirstOiling-01.jpg

You'll notice the difference with case hardening...
640px-Niter_and_Color_Case.jpg
 
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