These are popular both with collectors who want an Old West era Smith & Wesson without paying the big bucks for a large frame, and with cowboy action shooters and re-enactors. The latter appreciate that these are chambered for the still manufactured 38 S&W and 32 S&W cartridges. This makes it easier to obtain brass to reload appropriate black powder or pyrodex type loads for these five shooters (of course after they have been ok’d by a gunsmith).

Both were popular revolvers in the late 1800’s. The 38 SA was manufactured in three different models through the turn of the century, with a total of over 160,000 made. This is the Model that introduced the 38 S&W cartridge. The 32 SA was made from 1878 to 1892 with over 97,000 produced, all in the then new 32 S&W cartridge. All are pre-1899 Antiques.

38 SA, 1st Mod. ("baby Russian")	38 SA, 2nd Mod.	32 SA   click pix to enlarge

    Photos & for sale listings of S&W SA Top-breaks

S&W’s 32 and 38 DA Revolvers enjoyed remarkable popularity during the late 19th and early 20^th Centuries. From the introduction of the 32 DA and the 38 DA in 1880 through the discontinuance of the 32 and 38 Safety Hammerless just before WWII, nearly one and a half million of these revolvers were sold, with the vast majority of these sales apparently occurring in the 1880 through 1910 time frame. They are chambered for the 32 S&W and 38 S&W centerfire cartridges which had proved popular in S&W ‘s spur trigger top-break single action revolvers, and which have continued in production through today. The 38 models were based on S&W’s medium "Number 2" frame, while the 32 caliber models were based on the small "1½" frame. All had 5 shot cylinders, with automatic ejection of empty cases upon opening.

The 32 DA and 38 DA were S&W’s first double action handguns. The Safety Hammerless Models followed with the 38 introduced in 1887 and the 32 in 1888. These innovative guns featured a concealed hammer and a grip safety, working in DA only mode. They are also known as "Lemonsqueezers" or "New Departures."

.38 DA Perfected, click pix to enlarge.	.32 Safety Hammerless, 1st, 2nd & 3rd Models.	.38 Safeties, 1st thru 5th Models, showing distinguishing features

Many other makers introduced similar DA top-break automatic ejection revolvers with huge quantities being produced by such firms as Harrington and Richardson, Iver Johnson, Hopkins and Allen, Forehand and Wadsworth, and many others in both standard and hammerless configurations. Although the hand ejector style of revolver soon came to dominate 20^th Century production, these handy little top-breaks by various manufacturers remained popular well through WWII.

    Photos & for sale listings of S&W .32 & .38 Safeties & DA's
 

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