What's the best-made rimfire antique revolver?

TheCoachZed

TheCoachZed

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I see a wide range of antique rimfires, but the ones that seem best-liked are the Remington Smoots. Then there's the Colt New Line models, and Marlin, then a lot of (mostly) no-name manufacturers, although I suppose they all could have been well-known in their day.

What are the best-made ones? I'd love to own one, but many of them just seem so much like a pig-in-a-poke situation, not like buying a vintage S&W with 120 years of gunsmithing know-how for them.
 
My favorite for well-made revolvers is the Remington model 4 (no more Smoot), followed by the Colt New Line. The solid frame guns seem to hold up better than their folding counterparts. Marlin and Smith made folding rimfires which tend to get wobbly due to their design. Not that they aren't well made, the design just isn't durable.

If you're looking for multi-barrel or single shot, single barrel, again, Remington and Colt. Sharps 4-barrel guns are also nicely made and likely to keep working.

There are very nice Harrington & Richardson and Hopkins & Allen guns (H&R, H&A) but you need to look at the cylinder stop cuts. If they are just slots, these are not great, ie "Defender".

The big names fetched double what the H&R and H&A guns back when they were first sold. Two bucks and change bought the H&R/H&A pocket guns, less for the slotted cylinder stop guns, and while these were better made than some modern "cheapies", they were still trying to save as much money as they could when building guns, whether on material, labor or machinery.

As with anything else, if you buy the best you can afford, you'll be happier than having bought something cheap. Buy once, cry once, as they say.
 
I have to throw my two bits in for the Remington Model #4 Pocket Revolver as well. I've had 9 Rimfire Antiques and that's the only one I still have. It has a really smooth action and the build quality is equivalent to the larger centerfire Antique revolvers. It's main competition were the " Suicide Specials " and it held it's own for about a decade against the cheapies before it ended up losing ground to them.
It's a really nice little Old West type back up gun. So are the Colt New Lines.
The Smith and Wesson Tip-Up's ( #2, #1 1/2 ) get a bit wobbly in their old age. I've had them, and liked them, but when I buy another Rimfire Antique it'll be a Remington Pocket Revolver in a different caliber than my .38rf Short #4.
Cheers.
 
I think that the Tranters are amongst the finest of the pocket rimfires. They're far less common but beautiful little guns and very finely fitted. If ammo was available I would start to regret trading mine away.
 
I like the Remington double barrel derringers in 41 rf there supper thick chambers and I have some 41 rf smokeless I shoot goes right thru a sheet of 5/8s plywood.
 
I've owned over 100 spur trigger pocket pistols and have developed some pre determined favorites. Pretty hard to beat the feel of a Colt New Line in the hand. Remington No. 4's are good too. The S&W and marlin generally seem rickety. My favorite antique rim fire spur trigger pocket pistol though is my Wesson & Harrington in 32rf short. Great feel, very well built and with the HC collection reloads you can shoot it all day long.
 
As far as spur trigger revolvers go, I like my Forehand and Wadsworth .41RF "Swamp Angel". It seems to be a lot more substantial than many of the others.
The little S&W is a very nice, quality, small .32RF.
The S&W is in the center, the F&W to its left.
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tiriaq said:
As far as spur trigger revolvers go, I like my Forehand and Wadsworth .41RF "Swamp Angel". It seems to be a lot more substantial than many of the others.
The little S&W is a very nice, quality, small .32RF.
The S&W is in the center, the F&W to its left.
View attachment 398335
Click to expand...

I've seen a few references to people really liking the Swamp Angel. Maybe it was built a bit more beefy to handle the .41 load.
 
Most associate spur trigger revolvers with the very low cost pieces mass produced late in the 19th century. These were made in great numbers, and are the ones most often seen, usually in decrepit condition.
But there were spur trigger revolvers soundly made by serious manufacturers.
Most of the revolvers in the photo represent the less expensive variety. They are all in sound working condition, and in generally superior condition, but aren't in the same category as the ones made by Colt, Remington, S&W. The Swamp Angel does give the impression of being a solid little piece.
 
TheCoachZed said:
I see a wide range of antique rimfires, but the ones that seem best-liked are the Remington Smoots. Then there's the Colt New Line models, and Marlin, then a lot of (mostly) no-name manufacturers, although I suppose they all could have been well-known in their day.

What are the best-made ones? I'd love to own one, but many of them just seem so much like a pig-in-a-poke situation, not like buying a vintage S&W with 120 years of gunsmithing know-how for them.
Click to expand...


Speaking only for .32 rimfire, for spur trigger guns go for a Lee Arms "Red Jacket" or a "Robin Hood No. 3" (version with wide notches and disc side-plate). Basically look for the cylinder stop notches to be of the wide variety, the ones with the thin notches tend to run into more trouble with slop and breakage.

For DA guns the best value for price and durability would probably be a 6 shot Forehand & Wadsworth or 5 shot Harrington & Richardson.
 
I have had extremely good luck with the S&W 1 1/2 and 2 series. Yes, the barrels can get a bit of wobble to them. Most of them shoot just fine even with a bit of wobble.
 
I picked up a lovely Marlin #32 Standard in .32 rf. I've yet to test fire it, but I'll be filming when I do. I want to do a test for group and one for penetration. If you google "Marlin #32 Standard", my video should come up. There is a very slight degree of play at the latch on mine which I expected, but overall, it is in excellent condition. The big thing for me is the fact that it suits my wife's petite hands and if we start going the way of our southern neighbours, a tidy little persuader may make a big difference.
 
I would have to say either colt newline in .38RF or the Remington new police in .38 rf
The colt comes apart fairly easy, I wouldn't touch the trigger assembly though. It is really tricky to put back together. It also shoot the h&c reloads very well compared to other rf's.

The Remington on the other hand is super simple to disassemble and clean. The conversion cylinder and holds the reloads very well and stops debris from going back into the action or bulged primer stopping the cylinder (issue with the acorn reloads sometimes). My only complaint would be the hammer strikes the brass too hard, ends up denting my reloads past the acorn primer.
 
My pick is either a webley or tranter in 230 rf.
They are antique and will shoot 22 cb caps available at Canadian tire
Or even 22 short if you want to risk it
They are all just for plinking so may as well do it cheap
 
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