i need help with this question

[chillincody]

allright so my qs is i recentlly inherited a model 1901 forehand hopkins and allen .32 s&w cal da revolver im trying to get it in my name but as i was filling out the ca doj form i noticed the first number in the serial is scuffed up so i cant make it out 100% it looks like a R but it could be a B lol well any help would be amazing and appreciated would really b awesome to own and shoot this gun to remember my grand father since hes the one who tought me about guns and more important gun safty

[E Pluribus Unum]

Which gun has the messed up serial number?

[toby]

Be real careful, with this one some are so loose they do not line up well? I just got rid of 2 of them, they shot slivers of lead out to the side when fired, not a good thing...just a heads up.

[emcon5]

[chillincody]

toby yes i know i will be careful.from what i can see i looks to be fireable im 99% sure but the 1% scares me so i plan on having it looked over by my gun store before its shot but dont want it to be taken from me due to the scuff on the serial number

[chillincody]

E Pluribus Unum its only one revolver with the messed up serial

[0321jarhead]

Can you show us some pics? Are you sure its .32 S&W? Not .32RF (rim fire)? The reason why I ask is that I am looking in my book (Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms 8th edition) under Hopkins and Allen on page 390, it does not list any .32 S&W DA revolver. As for viewing the serial number, have you tried to use a jewelers eye piece? That pistal is over 100 years old and serial numbers were not recorded with our feds then as it is today concerning ownership. Does the serial number look like somebody messed it up or is it just wear and tear?

[chillincody]

hope these help sorry my camera sucks and im pretty sure it a .32 s&w found a box with the gun and rounds fit but i could be wrong

[0321jarhead]

The one pic with the numbers is well, you know. Carfully take off the pisol grips. In some you may find some numbers. I'm not sure if this one will. On the grips, I can't see it very well but, are those initials? Like FW?

[TRICKSTER]

Be careful if you plan on shooting it, I don't believe that it would be safe to shoot with modern smokeless powder ammo.

[chillincody]

jarhead yes it does have a f w on the grips from what i found is f w owned the company before hopkins and allen bought it


and trickster i do plan on shooting it .uses smokeless not black powder was told cowboy action ammo would be ideal never seen it in the stores tho

[0321jarhead]

[QUOTE=chillincody;6997716]jarhead yes it does have a f w on the grips from what i found is f w owned the company before hopkins and allen bought it


I hope it is the numbers or letter (R or B) you are looking for. And as for shooting, may I suggest you have a gunsmith in your area evaluate that pistol. The "FW" is for the company Forehand & Wadsworth. Iteresting history behind F&W.

[chillincody]

jarhead yes it looks to be a R or B for first number in the serial .and i do intend on a gun smith looking it over before i shoot it and far as f&w goes i understand this gun has a unigue history far as ownership goes the company was sold 2 or 3 times in like a 10 year period before ending up as hopkins allen correct if im wrong tho..

[steamerjames]

RE:Hopkins & Allen

i think you have misunderstood the numbers.THESE ARE NOT SERIAL NUMBERS, they are assembly numbers, so the parts will stay together. Hopkins and allen did not build guns with interchangeable parts, they are all hand fitted.Very few gun companys in those days serial numbered there guns, the only ones i know of are Winchester and Colt.They did use numbers up to XXXX and then started off again.Remington rolling blocks are the same thing.This is a big problem for gun collectors, for example the way they numbered Lugers means if your number is 12345, there are AT LEAST 26 Lugers with that number.Some persons have been put in jail because of this, at least in NY and NJ.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

If you are going to do the voluntary Reg, I would list it as "no serial number". Or as the numbers that are legible. And not stress about it too much. I have one of those in .38 S&W that isn't in fireable shape. But it is interesting. Most of those old top-breaks look alike from the outside, but each one is very different inside. The F&Ws were fairly nifty. Remember that it takes .32 S&W, NOT .32 S&W Long. The unfortunate thing is that many of these old .32 S&W guns will accept the Longs in the chamber, and they are definately not safe for them. Modern .32 S&W ammo is safe in these old guns if they are still in shootable condition. They are loaded very light, just like the originals were. Or you could handload if you want to. I actually bought some cases to do that, but I have yet to get around to it. So many old guns, so little time...

-Mb