older model handgun

Question
My mother has an older model handgun. It is a 5 shot with about a 3 inch barrel. It has F and W on it and a badge shapped insignia that has stars and stripes on it. It also has an 8 pointed star one of the screws. She believes it may be from the 30;s but not sure. Any help you can give me as to what make and model it is would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Jacki

Answer
Jacki,

Without a bit more information I can't be absolutely certain, but I think what you have there is an old Forehand & Wadsworth pistol. Does it open for loading by breaking in half with the barrel moving downward exposing the cylinder? If so, then I'm pretty sure it is in fact a Forehand & Wadsworth.

Assuming it is, it was likely built in the late 1800s in Worchester, Mass and is chambered for either the .38 S&W (which is NOT, repeat NOT, the same as the .38 Special) or the .32 H&R Short.

At any rate, it's probably not very safe to shoot at this point. If you were interested in firing it, you'd want to take it to a good gunsmith first and have he or she look it over and make sure the frame, cylinder, barrel and lockwork can still handle the stress of being fired. Bear in mind, you may have a hard time finding boxes of .38 S&W or .32 H&R ammo for it, with the .38 S&W being harder to find as no new pistol has been built in that old cartridge in ages.

In terms of value, unfortunately F&W was only one of several turn-of-the-century gunmakers who were trying to capitalize on America's continued westward expansion with inexpensive handguns. Therefore, unless you find a serious F&W collector, it's not worth much.

You do, however, have an example of one of the ORIGINAL "Saturday night specials" and if you were interested in starting a gun collection, collecting such older "cheap" pistols is among the least exensive ways to amass a collection that may not be worth much, but DOES represent a piece of our history.

If you have any other questions, or if you find some marking on the gun that indicates it's NOT an F&W and want more information, please feel free to ask.


Kyle