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Working the S&W top-break .38 Single Action 1st Model: also known as the "Baby Russian" because of its resemblance to the .44-caliber Smith & Wesson New Model Russian, this medium-frame revolver was the first chambered for the revered .38 S&W cartridge.

Article Excerpt
The .38 Single Action of 1876 was Smith & Wesson's first medium-size top-break revolver. As such, it became the forerunner of an entire series of single-action, double-action, and safety hammerless revolvers in this size (and sharing the same grip) that were produced up until 1940.

According to the book Smith & Wesson 1857-1945 by Neal & Jinks, the .38 S&W cartridge was designed first, and this revolver was then designed around that cartridge. First introduced in 1876, the .38 Single Action 1st Model was a spur-trigger revolver with a pleasing round butt grip shape that many shooters found comfortable to use and easy to conceal. To open the revolver, the shooter lifts a T-shaped barrel catch that opens the barrel/flame, allowing the barrel to tilt downward, thus exposing the rear of the cylinder.

This model also became known as the "Baby Russian," because of the similarities between it and its larger relative, the 3rd Model .44 Russian that was manufactured during the same time period. The only obvious differences between the two--other than the size--was the. 38's spur-type trigger and the .44's removable, bowed trigger guard with a second spur at its rear. Much like the famous Model No. 3, .44 New Model Russian, the .38 @@e Action First Model used a separate cylinder catch that slid into the barrel top strap and a rack-and-gear extraction system with a square extractor shank. Both the .38 and the .44 used a similar long extractor housing under the barrel.

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Only two barrel lengths were offered on this model--3 inch and 4 inch. Nickel plating or blue finishes were both offered by the factory and the majority of the guns produced were equipped with checkered hard-rubber (gutta-percha) grips. Like all the S&W top-break revolvers, this one also featured simultaneous, automatic ejection of the spent cartridge cases upon opening. Manufactured for only two years (1876 and 1877) and serial numbered from 1 to 25,548, the...

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