Manual for .38 S&W single action model 2

[sheppard]

Does anyone have a link or reference to an owners manual for the .38 S&W cal single action model 2 revolver?

Thanks in advance.

[model3sw]

To the best of my knowledge there is not, nor was not, an "owner's manual" for a Model 2 Single Action.

Not sure if you're confusing the Model 2 Army (.32 Caliber) with the 2nd model .38 Single Action, spur trigger. Either way, no "owner's manuals" that I know of, were ever printed.

There are some old parts diagrams, etc. in old publications and ( I think ) in one of Dave Chicoine's books of the 1990-2000 time frame.

Wait for Ed Cornett to show up. He knows best on this.

[murphydog]

At the very most, the original box lids of this era (late 1800s) had basic operating instructions for the top-break revolvers made at that time. A Forum search may find you an image of that for your gun.

As Mike noted, the S & W model 2 was in .32 Rimfire and is a "tip-up"...not even box lids with printed instructions with those. This was well before the time of "don't point that at someone and pull the trigger because that is dangerous" warnings with each gun sold...

[glowe]

I have no idea why S&W designed two completely different revolvers and labeled them as Model 1 1/2, and 2, but that was how the company named their handguns in the last half of the nineteenth century. I have seen many factory flyers advertising the three models of tip-up revolvers 1, 1 1/2, and 2. I also have a 1882 Poster from S&W that calls the 32 and 38 centerfire revolvers Model 1 1/2 and Model 2.

Collectors now simply use 32 Single Action and 38 Single Action (1st or 2nd Models). That makes identification much easier for us. These revolvers were made long before company lawyers started down the road of lessening corporate liability, so all the shooter needed to know was how to open, load, close and shoot. Those instructions were inside the top lid of the pasteboard box issued with every gun that left the factory. I do not have an image of the 38 SA box, but for the purpose of this thread, the single action boxes would have had similar instructions as this example of a 32 Double Action box.

[JSR III]

I have no idea why S&W designed two completely different revolvers and labeled them as Model 1 1/2, and 2,

Gary, being new to the antique S&W world, I am not sure that I understand your question. My brief time as a student of the antiques has led me to believe that the 1, 1 1/2 and 2 and even the 3 for that matter were used to designate changes to the first models produced by S&W. The 1 was a small .22, 7 shot, the two was a larger 6 shot .32 caliber and the 1 1/2 (so named because it came out after the model 2) was squeezed between the models 1 and 2 and was a smaller .32 rim fire 5 shot.

[danalex]

Hello,

I have in my collection of waste papers a rare instruction sheet for use for the model S&W American.

DSCN0094.jpg

DSCN0095.jpg

[glowe]

Originally Posted by JSR III

Gary, being new to the antique S&W world, I am not sure that I understand your question. My brief time as a student of the antiques has led me to believe that the 1, 1 1/2 and 2 and even the 3 for that matter were used to designate changes to the first models produced by S&W. The 1 was a small .22, 7 shot, the two was a larger 6 shot .32 caliber and the 1 1/2 (so named because it came out after the model 2) was squeezed between the models 1 and 2 and was a smaller .32 rim fire 5 shot.

That is all correct and the company advertised them as such. Now comes along the 32 Single Action and the 38 Single Action which started manufacture just after the end of production of the 22 and 32 RF revolvers. Completely different from the rimfire predecessors. Why did they name them Model 1 1/2 and Model 2 was the question since the rimfire models were probably still on the shelves when the centerfire guns of the same name started production.

I was trying to point out the difficulty in answering many threads started by asking about a Model 1 1/2 or Model 2 without photos and we cannot determine which gun is being referred to.

[JSR III]

Gary got it. I am guessing that S&W must have felt that changing the guns from rim fire to center fire was only a modification of the same platform so did not require a new model number.

Today we have the Model 14 and the 14-3 one being double action and one being the same gun in single action only.

Then again we have model 39 that is a single stack but S&W named the double stack version the model 59.

Of course the last two stated above were after the founders were in control so who knows what the thinking was in the early stages of the company.

[mmaher94087]

I believe the words "New Model" were probably the distinguishing factor while the old frame designation was kept to avoid confusion. "New Model 32, 1 1/2".

[opoefc]

Sheppard, The only "manual" for the .38 SA, 2nd model, is the instructions printed inside the box lid. There are various non-factory publications that show assembly/disassembly schematics . Ed.

[mmaher94087]

A picture.. etc. Here's three. The box is similar to the .38 SA, 1st (aka Baby Russian). The label has letters that are referred to on the inside instructions. The oval label is most often missing.

[sheppard]

Posts 10 and 11 have the info, thanks