Smith & Wesson Baby Russian - pics with new grips

9457 Views 17 Replies 12 Participants Last post by ian, Aug 9, 2013

twaits

Discussion Starter · Jul 4, 2013

I picked this up yesterday for $294 OTD. Pretty random. I always like the Baby Russian but never have seen one for a decent price. Plus this one is blue. Out of the 25,548 they made in 1876-77 only about 6500 were blue. This was the first gun chambered in .38 S&W

This is what it looked like when I got it. The grips were comically huge but actually felt really good in the hand. I have a bid out on some proper (almost) wood grips which is what most of the blue ones came with.

I removed the grips today and cleaned it up. It looks really good. The bore and chambers are bright and shiny with just a bit of pitting. I threw some grips on from one of my S&W top break DAs for now until I get the wood grips.

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Reactions: 5

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BobWright

· #2 · Jul 4, 2013

Nice find! I really like the old spur trigger Smiths!

Bob Wright

1988RRC

· #3 · Jul 4, 2013

Wow!

chaosrob

· #4 · Jul 5, 2013

Looks really nice. What process do you use to clean up the old girls?

Oyeboten

· #5 · Jul 5, 2013

Good going twaits!

I like those also ( but I do not have one yet).

Of course, with the 'Baby Russians'...one really should stay with Black Powder Cartridges I think...don't you agree?

Romance wise, every-way wise...

BigG

· #6 · Jul 5, 2013

Definitely Black Powder only.

twaits

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 5, 2013

I used Big Bore 45 frontier metal cleaner to clean off any surface rust or gummed up grime. Works great. I can't get the cylinder out of it though. I took the screw out of the topstrap but the little keeper seems to be stuck in there. I don't really want to force it. I may e-mail Dave Chicoine to see if he has any suggestions.

moosedog

· #8 · Jul 5, 2013

A classic example, nice catch sir.

rhmc24

· #9 · Jul 5, 2013 (Edited)

Bravo, big congrats. Finding an original blue Baby Russian with a good amount of finish on it is close to the grail. I'm envious!

twaits

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 4, 2013

I found some non original wood grips on gunbroker. They were varnished and shaped wrong at the top so I reshaped the top part of the grips to make them look a bit more like they would on an original gun. Stripped the varnish, sanded smooth and applied linseed oil. They aren't perfect but look much better. It was as good as I could get anyway. I'm not great at doing grip work.

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dogface6

· #11 · Aug 4, 2013 (Edited)

Mine's got an engraved backstrap to 'F.T. Baker, 88 Fleet Street, London' - they were Smith & Wesson dealers, and marked their wares.

Nickeled, no pitting, tight as a drum, excellent bore and has ivories, to boot.

Guns like that really got a chance to see the world.

I used 'Big 45 Frontier Metal Cleaner', followed by 'Simichrome', and it presents very nicely.

Your blued one is rarer.

Vintage Gun Grips - Colt Grips - Gun Grips - Pistol Grips - Buttplates - Forends - Grip Caps makes a neat pair of what will pass for hard rubber if you dull the surface somewhat - they'll do until you find another pair of originals.

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twaits

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 4, 2013

Dogface, can you post some pictures of yours? Sounds really nice.
I think I'm going to keep these walnut ones on it. I really like how the wood looks against the blued finish.

dogface6

· #13 · Aug 4, 2013

Alas, I'm somewhat of a Luddite when it comes to adding photos.

I tried in a different post, but was thwarted.

rhmc24

· #14 · Aug 4, 2013

Not as rare or collectible as your blue one but here's my Baby, but in nickel. As nice in as out, no history, my Dad took it in trade back in the '60s.

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RacingSnake

· #15 · Aug 4, 2013

Stocks look very good Twaits - nice job

twaits

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 5, 2013

dogface6 said:
Alas, I'm somewhat of a Luddite when it comes to adding photos.

I tried in a different post, but was thwarted.

Did you look at this to see how its done? It's pretty easy:

http://www.coltforum.com/forums/photos-area/10865-photobucket-picture-posting-primer.html

Mike Armstrong

· #17 · Aug 7, 2013

Those grips look great to me!

For some reason Baby Russians were very popular with our Mexican neighbors, and those mostly didn't fare well over time, so the model isn't common anywhere. They fit into the leg pockets on chaps just perfect, and that may have accounted for some of their appeal with "Los Vecinos."

ian

· #18 · Aug 9, 2013

Nice pistol!

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