Smith & Wesson .32 Single Action Model 1½ (Centerfire) Top-Break Revolver, 3" Nickel, c. 1891–1892
This antique, small-frame Smith & Wesson .32 Single Action Model 1½ (Centerfire) is a late-19th-century top-break pocket revolver with automatic extraction. Chambered in .32 S&W with a 3" barrel and nickel finish, it features a five-shot cylinder, spur trigger, and classic bird's-head grip. Produced circa 1891–1892, it represents a compact, American-made S&W design with period-correct details that appeal to collectors.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: Widespread pitting is present. The action remains smooth and the lockup remains tight.
What’s Included
- Smith & Wesson .32 Single Action Model 1½ (Centerfire) revolver
This is a small-frame, five-shot .32 S&W top-break with automatic extraction. The single top-latch both secures the action and serves as the rear sight, a hallmark of these compact S&W pocket models. The 3" round-profile barrel includes a full-length top rib with manufacturer/patent legend.
Construction is all steel with a nickel finish on the frame and cylinder. The revolver retains its bird's-head grip profile and checkered black hard rubber stocks with S&W monogram, delivering the classic handling of the era in a compact footprint.
Controls and sights are period-correct: single-action operation with a spur trigger, an exposed hammer featuring a wide, checkered spur, and fixed sights consisting of a half-moon front and a notch integral to the top-latch. The frame-mounted firing pin is retained by a small screw.
Made in the United States during the late 19th century (circa 1891–1892), this Model 1½ (Centerfire) represents a notable S&W pocket revolver configuration from the era, combining the convenience of top-break automatic extraction with a micro-size platform.