Antique Smith & Wesson .38 Double Action Third Model Top-Break Revolver, .38 S&W, 3.25 in., Nickel
This antique Smith & Wesson .38 Double Action Third Model stands out for its top-break, automatic-ejecting design and Third-Model internal update to a leaf-spring cylinder stop. It features a 3.25-inch round barrel with a solid rib bearing a multi-date patent legend, a nickel finish, and matching serial markings observed on the butt and rear of the cylinder. Chambered in .38 S&W, it represents the c. 1884–1895 era of S&W production.
The Third Model incorporates double-action/single-action operation with an exposed, knurled-spur hammer and a 5-shot cylinder. The fixed-sight arrangement includes a pinned half-moon front blade and a rear notch integral to the top latch for a straightforward, period-correct sight picture.
The top-break architecture with automatic simultaneous ejection speeds unloading and reflects a hallmark S&W mechanism of the period. The carbon-steel frame and barrel are finished in nickel, paired with checkered black hard-rubber grips with the S&W monogram molded in relief on a bird’s-head butt.
Details such as the solid-rib barrel with patent legend, the internal Third-Model cylinder-stop update, and matching numbers on key components add collector interest. Made in the United States and classified as an antique, this revolver is a representative example of S&W’s late-19th-century double-action lineup.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Fouling: Mild Fouling - Light buildup of fouling or dirt.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: The firearm shows considerable wear. The cylinder has spots of rust and pitting. There is a chip at the bottom of the grip. The bore exhibits some corrosion.
What’s Included
- Smith & Wesson .38 Double Action Third Model revolver
The Third Model’s leaf-spring cylinder stop is an internal refinement associated with this series, offering the mechanical update collectors look for within the .38 Double Action line. The revolver retains its classic DA/SA operation with an exposed hammer and a 5-round cylinder in .38 S&W.
The top-break action with automatic simultaneous ejection is a defining S&W feature of the era, enabling fast, unified extraction of spent cases. This mechanism remains a distinctive element of the design and a practical hallmark of late-19th-century Smith & Wesson revolvers.
The 3.25-inch round barrel has a solid rib marked with a multi-date patent legend, underscoring its period production context. Fixed sights consist of a pinned half-moon front blade and a notch integral to the top latch at the rear.
Construction is carbon steel with a nickel finish, paired with checkered black hard-rubber grips that carry the S&W monogram molded in relief on a bird’s-head butt. Matching serial markings on the butt and the rear of the cylinder were observed, adding coherence to this example’s configuration.