Secret Service 38 S&W Revolver
Any one know who made a hinged frame, chrome plated, 5 shot, 38 S&W,
DAO, revolver with Secret Service stamped on the top of the barrel?
No other markings.
TIA
DAO, revolver with Secret Service stamped on the top of the barrel?
No other markings.
TIA
0
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SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL...Made for Fred Biffer, Chicago, Ill.By Iver-Johnson and Meriden... 0 -
there were actually 5 different manufacturers of the secret service special. being a distributor fred biffar would buy from whoever gave him the best price.
SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL HAMMER
(manufactured for FRED BIFFAR Co.)
1912-????
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME DOES NOT HAVE HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: These are the same as U.S. Revolver Co. Four other Companies also manufactured Secret Service Special revolvers for Fred Biffar Co. they are Meriden Firearms Co., Hopkins & Allen Firearms Co. and H&R Arms Co. and an unknown Spanish manufacturer. The Secret Service Special is the same revolver as the U.S. Revolver Co. Automatic except for the markings on the barrel. The top of the barrel will be marked " for .38 SMITH & WESSON cartridge" (or .32 for the small frame) and the left side of the barrel will be marked SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL. This Brand name was sold only through Fred Biffar Co. of Chicago. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see.
VALUE: Iver Johnson: manufacture same as U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&R Arms Co. manufacture 10% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&A Firearms Co. manufacture 15% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Meriden Firearms Co. manufacture 20% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Unknown Spanish manufacture 25% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL HAMMERLESS
(manufactured for FRED BIFFAR Co.)
1912-????
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME DOES NOT HAVE HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: This revolver is the same as the U.S. Revolver Co. Automatic Hammerless model only the markings on the barrel and the grips are different. The grips and barrel markings are the same as the hammer model. This revolver Brand name is sold only through Fred Biffar Co. of Chicago. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see.
VALUE: Iver Johnson: manufacture same as U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&R Arms Co. manufacture 10% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
H&A Firearms Co. manufacture 15% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Meriden Firearms Co. manufacture 20% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
Unknown Spanish manufacture 25% less than U. S. Revolver Co. equivalent
SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL WITH HAMMER BLOCK SAFETY
1917-????
LARGE FRAME AND SMALL FRAME DOES NOT HAVE HAMMER THE HAMMER ACTION: The only difference between this model and the earlier Secret Service Special is the Patented hammer block safety. This safety was patented by Prospero Donaldo and assigned to Fred Biffar Co. of Chicago. It is number 1,227,531 issued on May 22, 1917. Main serial number location on left side of grip frame grips must be removed to see.
VALUE: Iver Johnson manufacture 10% more than U.S. Revolver Co. equivalent.
when providing information to the 30th edition of the blue book i included the secret service special because iver johnson was one of the 5 supplier for revolvers marked secret service special. the values place on them are based on the iver johnson manufactured U.S. Recolver Co., which will be betwee 100%=$225 and 60%=$105.
each manufacturer of these revolvers can be identified if a person has knowledge of the different manufacturer. with out an inhand inspection or at the least good clear pictures the exact manufacturer is impossible to determine.
to the best of my knowledge Hopkins & Allen was the first supplier and the unknown spanish company was the last. the eariest date seem to be about 1890 and the last in the late 1920's. all the iver johnson manufactured one date from about 1912 through the early 1920's
bill0 -
Bill,
Thank you for the detailed information.0
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