what did i buy

[walter o]

my 1st venture into old S&W pistols .What is it ? and can I buy the extractor rod for under the barrel or could i make one? Is it just pressed in to fit? S/N is 21696 about 60% of the plating is on the frame ,no finish on the barrel. Grips are numbered the same as frame.Bbl. is a little wobbly not bad ,lock up fair,
Any help dating this little rascal?I guess this proves that even a blind hog can find an acorn once and a while. I walked into Cabelas today and bought it for $65.00 .Thought it was a good buy.

[murphydog]

It's a model 1, 2nd issue. Others will give a more specific answer regarding its ship date but it was likely during the Civil War. I don't know how the rod attaches either, but someone here does.

[opoefc]

It's a bargain for $65. It dates to early Civil War period. The extractor rod can be made from a large nail of the same diameter, cut to fit, and rounded on the front end. It is held in by a set screwiest below the opening in the frame. If the screw is missing you can press fit the new part good enough to work. If all parts are original to the gun, the back of the barrel, the cylinder and the grip frame under the grips will have an assembly code, consisting of usually one to three letters & numbers. If these all match , the gun has all original parts. The grips may, or may not, also be numbered to match the serial number. Ed.

[glowe]

For reference in case you do not have access to another Model 1, 2nd Issue, I took a couple of measurements.

The diameter of the rod is .225" and the centerline length from frame to tip is 1.40". My 2nd Issue tip-ups do not have any screw holding the rod in place, so they must be press fit. My 3rd Issues do have the set-screw.