Among older S&W models I have acquired just a few to illustrate the generations of S&W design. So among the tipups I have had a Number 1 Second Issue, two Number 1-1/2s Second, and a Number 2 of Civil War vintage. I wasn’t really looking for any more when this Number 1 Third issue crossed my path and I couldn’t resist the good condition and low price. (Yes, the box is not the ammo this gun would shoot. Just a prop for the pic.)
There is no rust and only a little minor pitting. The bore is good, the latch is tight and the hinge is tight. The cylinder indexes and locks up very snugly. It holds cock very securely. As I was handling it and admiring these things it whispered “shoot me.” My other No. 1, like most Number 1s I have seen, seemed to be too loose for shooting and I never contemplated it, but this one was different.
Among available loads for the .22 short you can find .22 CB Short, .22 Short Target, .22 Short Regular velocity, and .22 Short High velocity, solid or hollow point. The CBs are the lowest pressure shells and so I chose them as the safest to use to test the Model 1. The gun holds 7 cartridges so I fired three groups of seven shots at a distance of five (5) yards. The two groups in the picture were fired with the CB shorts. (My shooting improved quite a bit, didn’t it?) Things went well so I decided to shoot one group with the Target rounds. The CBs chronographed 491 fps and the Targets 625 fps. Looks like the target rounds may also have an edge in accuracy, but I will probably never shoot it enough to tell for sure.
In this test the Model 1/Third functioned perfectly. I believe it would not be safe to use the regular or high velocity rounds in the 150+ year old popper. Accuracy is plenty good for card table range but stopping power would certainly be questionable. But, I found out what I wanted to know and the gun seems no worse for the wear. This is a description of my experience and is not a recommendation for enthusiasts to fire their very old guns.

Last pic shows two peas in a pod, except for size. The Model 1 third with a Model 1-1/2 second.

Attached Images

	side view.jpg (96.5 KB, 176 views)
	front cyl.jpg (156.2 KB, 172 views)
	targets.jpg (137.5 KB, 181 views)
	two tipups.jpg (113.4 KB, 168 views)

Risk taker! Someone with gravitas will be along shortly to admonish you for endangering that tip-up.



Seriously good shooting, BTW!

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

It shoots more to point of aim than my Allen and Wheelock .22 side hammer revolver! Glad you made the report. It's not like you were endangering a museum piece.

Are you sure the target was not 5 feet away? Every Model 1 I have ever owned shot way high. Some as much as 5 feet high at 10 yards. Remind me of the old adage " Can't hit the side of the barn". Standard 22 Shorts are too powerful for these revolver as they run up to 900 fps. No need to use anything more powerful than CB ammo.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

For some reason I have never had any desire to fire any of my #1, or # 1 1/2's. I actually did fine a box of .32 Rimfire and thought about it but set it aside. I always enjoyed mine by putting them in Shadow Boxes and displaying them in my home office. Looked nice on top of my Roll Top desk.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I know the difference between 5 and 15 feet and 15 was where I was. As to gravitas, I have as much as many who post here, and I have the shooting results.

An attempt at humor - apparently not well received!

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Point taken. I would not have expected it to do as well either. It is hot and I am an old grouch. Keep the humor and good comments coming.

I also have been tempted to try my Mod 1 . I have some CB shorts and some old copper cased 22shorts that I think are black powder, so also tempting to try, for the authentic experience.

I used a No. 1 third issue in an NCOWS Pocket Pistol competition a few years back. I was in 1st place until someone else shot.

Books

I have an engraved 1st, 3rd that came with some period 22 short ammo and a 1 1/2 that I have some period 32 short for. Even with the period stuff I still can't get up the nerve to shoot them! You're braver than I!

Here's not a very good picture of the 1st, 3rd.

Well, if I had a decent shape Model 1, I'd put a few CB caps through it and damn the admonishment.

Good job McShooty- it's a gun, not a paperweight.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

I used CB caps.
Cowboy action shooters refer to light load .38s as "mouse fart" loads.

That Number 1 with CB caps was like "grasshopper farts."
You really had to listen to hear the BBs hitting the steel.

Books

Well done!

It always makes me happy to see the old Revolvers taken out for a 'safe and sane' spin..!

Nice shooting, too!

Local Gun Store in So Cal a few years ago had a good stack of NOS ( but modern ) Black Powder .22 Shorts, and I had nothing to fire them in so I did not get any.

Fast forward a few years and I got a Colt New Line in .22, and, now wish I had got a few boxes...just shows to go ya, huh...eeeesh!

They really do look awesome on top.

Gary do not shoot the copper cased 22 shorts, every so often there are collectors asking for some to display with their revolvers. They are rather hard to come by.