Pocket Breaktops

RickB · April 08, 2011, 07:23:46 PM

Looking forward to it. I have to admit I am pretty fond of those old breaktop pocket pistols. There's just something about them.

Silver_Rings · April 08, 2011, 08:24:03 PM

In a gun store in Grand Junction, CO today I saw a S&W Schofield for $2499. It's finish is rough and it has the 5" barrel. The serial number is 60xx. Is this a good price?

SR

Books OToole · April 12, 2011, 09:36:37 AM

Quote from: Silver_Rings on April 08, 2011, 08:24:03 PM
In a gun store in Grand Junction, CO today I saw a S&W Schofield for $2499. It's finish is rough and it has the 5" barrel. The serial number is 60xx. Is this a good price?

SR

A nice one runs $ 10,000-12,000.

Books

Silver_Rings · April 14, 2011, 09:44:24 AM

Thanks for the info.

SR

WaddWatsonEllis · April 14, 2011, 10:35:09 AM

I came intto posession of this rth Model 1898 S&W pocket pistol in .32 S&W ... and currently TBARK custom knives is putting some stag grips on it ... the originals are pristine and I am keeping them stored away ... but here is how they look now, and the attachement is how they came ...

Old No7 · April 14, 2011, 08:54:50 PM

WWE you did well! I love the stag grips on that one!

Not sure if a 6" barrel qualifies as a "pocket" model, but I just picked up this old H&R 32 "Automatic". The bore is pristine, the action is nice and tight, and the finish is about 98% (I had to touch up a few spots on the right side, where she lay in a drawer for years). I don't think she was shot much -- but I will change that!

Those "saw handled" grips didn't thrill me at first glance, but they do hold really well! If it wasn't for the tiny sights on this one, with the longer barrel and target-type grips, I'd almost call her a "target" model. But I do like her a lot, as she complements my Uberti Schofield in .38 and H&R Sportsman in .22

Tight groups!

Old No7

WaddWatsonEllis · April 14, 2011, 11:01:09 PM

No 7,

My computer just erased my post, so please bear with me.

Although T Bar K does knives normally, he does wonderful work with stag grips ... I am guessing that is because he uses stag so much on his knives and his rates are very reasonable ... another company wanted twice what he did ... I am gussing materials are less expensive in Texas ...

Another thought is that you can make a holster for the pocket pistol and be able to holster it and have another hand free when walking towards a stage ... I am doing exactly that and am making a matching little crossdraw holster that matches my rig ...
And when I am done with it it will match these hopefully:

My appologies to anyone who has seen this pic before ...

Montana Slim · April 16, 2011, 09:32:56 PM

You'd be surprised to see the hand carved double & single gun rigs and sheepskin lined rifle/shotgun cases my Pa has bought in old Mexico...and they say the dollar is "down" in the international market. They'll even make a traditional rig if you find the right guy. I think the complete double rig was $55.

Slim

RickB · April 19, 2011, 03:53:25 PM

Quote from: Short Knife Johnson on October 01, 2010, 05:22:02 AM
While we're showing off Merwin Hulberts, here's my 7-shot in .32 on the .38 frame. Now I need a large frame in .44 Russian to go with it.

Meh, break tops, front sliders, same diff.

I have a couple of Forehand & Wadsworth break tops. Around here they tend to go for cheap because they are mostly 12(6) class (prohibited) handguns. You have had to be grandfathered in to own one. Prior 15-Feb-96 iffen I recall correct like. At least anything prior 1946 can be classed 12(7) relic and passed on to an immediate blood relative. You folks don't want to know what happens to the rest of them upon a 12(6) holder's demise if a new home can't be found for said guns in a "reasonable" amount of time. Wonder how much trouble it would be to buy some of these up for export to the U.S.?

I saw one pretty much it's double at the gun show this last weekend. They were asking $600.00 for it. Not sure the caliber. Is that a good price and what about using smokeless ammo in one? What are the things to look for in a Merwin to make sure I would not be buying a boat anchor?

Short Knife Johnson · April 19, 2011, 04:18:04 PM

Quote from: RickB on April 19, 2011, 03:53:25 PM
I saw one pretty much it's double at the gun show this last weekend. They were asking $600.00 for it. Not sure the caliber. Is that a good price and what about using smokeless ammo in one? What are the things to look for in a Merwin to make sure I would not be buying a boat anchor?

I'd say 6 bills is a steal of a deal. I paid seven hundred for this one and it was roughly valued at much more than that. That particular one is a low serial number 7-shot .32 MH on the medium frame. I have a parts gun that was a 5-shot .38 MH on the medium frame. The .32 MH uses the .32 S&W Long case, but needs a shorter bullet. I would very fervently advocate against using smokless in these. They have been known to come apart. Every Merwin Hulbert made is prior 1891, and they should not be fed smokeless. As for what to look for, check out this fellow. http://www.merwinhulbert.com/home.html Terry is a long time collector of these beauties.

Dalton Masterson · April 19, 2011, 04:38:56 PM

I agree with what Short Knife Johnson said. They were a black powder firearm, use black powder. Its easy to do and wont risk destroying your MH.
I have seen a 38 MH with lanyard ring priced at 900 at a gun show, and it sold. 600 is probably pretty good, BUT I got mine for 65 at an auction so am kind of price biased.
Function wise, just like any other gun, make sure it locks up tight, has a decent bore, and functions. The rest is cosmetics and is up to you to decide on if you want it.
Good luck!
DM

RickB · April 19, 2011, 08:36:07 PM

Other than reloading them myself, how available are rounds for these calibers? Is it possible to still buy the black powder rounds for these guns?

I sure would hate to buy one and destroy it by shooting the wrong ammo in it. But I also couldn't buy a gun that I couldn't or wouldn't shoot. It would be a total waste of time and money in my mind to do that.

Short Knife Johnson · April 19, 2011, 08:53:24 PM

Ten-X maybe?

St. George · April 19, 2011, 10:58:08 PM

You're going to have to create your own, unless someone decides to do a production run of that round - and I don't see a demand for the caliber.

Last I checked, they stopped loading in black powder before WWII, and that ammunition's now quite collectible.

Scouts Out!

RickB · April 19, 2011, 11:16:16 PM

Might just be one of those guns that I leave on the sellers table then. I reload .45 and 9mm but with smokeless not with BP. I'm not much of a wizard with my reloading so I don't want to try to make a Frankenstien bullet that might do as much damage to the gun as buying the wrong reloads from someone else. Guess I'll stick with my modern remakes of older guns. My Schofields will keep me happy as a clam.

Not sure I would pay the price of the new Hulberts if/when they are sold. Not too sure they will ever make it to market. I sure hope they do, but I refuse to hold my breath waiting.

Thanks for all the advice. It's appreciated.

Driftwood Johnson · April 20, 2011, 09:09:21 AM

QuoteOther than reloading them myself, how available are rounds for these calibers? Is it possible to still buy the black powder rounds for these guns?

I sure would hate to buy one and destroy it by shooting the wrong ammo in it. But I also couldn't buy a gun that I couldn't or wouldn't shoot. It would be a total waste of time and money in my mind to do that.

Howdy

Buffalo Arms lists a fair number of Black Powder cartridges in their catalog. Some of them are very expensive though.

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm?viewfrom=1&catid=371&step=2

It really is not all that hard to load Black Powder rounds. I just picked up Lee die sets for 38 S&W and 32 S&W for a couple of my top breaks. I started loading 44 Russian recently for my New Model Number Three. I wouldn't let the lack of commercial BP ammo stop me from buying a cool old gun.

Dalton Masterson · April 20, 2011, 09:13:20 AM

I load my 38 Merwin with 38 S&W cases and my normal 38 special 125gr bullet over a full case of 2F black or APP.

Works great, goes boom, and is easy on the gun.

DM

RickB · April 20, 2011, 12:16:13 PM

I'll think it over and see if he still has the gun when the June gun show rolls around. If he has sold it I guess I'll have had my decision made for me.

Will Ketchum · April 20, 2011, 02:42:22 PM

Quote from: RickB on April 20, 2011, 12:16:13 PM
I'll think it over and see if he still has the gun when the June gun show rolls around. If he has sold it I guess I'll have had my decision made for me.

If I were you I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. You can always sell it for a profit.

I load all my S&W 38s with 9mm dies using the proper shell plate. All you need to do to load the case with BP is to size the case in your 9mm sizing die. Prime the case with a Lee Auto Primer. Scoop enough powder to fill the case. ( I use a Lee scoop from their set) and seat the bullet. You will need to lube the bullets with a black powder lube but you can order bullets so lubed already.

You might want to go to the Darkside board for suggestions on a solution for cleaning the spent cases.

Will Ketchum

RickB · April 20, 2011, 08:20:16 PM

I have no choice but to wait. The dealer (I didn't get his contact info) won't be back until the next gun show in June. So if I want to buy it I have time to save up the cash and can study up on what it will take to adopt this gun into my collection.

I've seen this gun on his table for a few gun shows now so I know it's available. I may even be able to talk his price down if it is still available. I'll test my ability to be a smooth talker.