Model 91 6" Barrel

SFIDEC · #1 12-21-2021, 01:05 PM

Traded into this Model 91 that I know very little about. SN# 3829. I've done some searching on the forum, read several detailed posts, but would like to know more about this single-shot 22 caliber jewel.
The frame and latch serial numbers match but no numbers on barrel. The front sight is unusual and I'm guessing modified.
Looking forward to comments.
Thank you!
Ray

SFIDEC · #2 12-21-2021, 01:07 PM

More pictures

handejector · #3 12-21-2021, 01:17 PM

Do you know where to look for the barrel number?

handejector · #4 12-21-2021, 01:25 PM

Also-
the front sight is an ivory bead that was fairly common back in the day. Is it marked Lyman?

H Richard · #5 12-21-2021, 01:28 PM

It appears to me to be a Second Model Single Shot. No recoil shield and grooved on the side of the receiver. It was made between 1905 -1909 and s/n range of 1 to 4617. It was available in 10" and on special order 8" and 6".
Yours appears to be in very nice condition, and the 6" barrel might have a little premium over the standard 10" barrel. They were available in a "Olympic Chamber", (where you had to press the round into the chamber the last couple 1/10ths of an inch. It was thought to improve accuracy.)
The SCSW4 shows a value of 400 good to 2500 as new. These prices are several years old and I haven't seen any sales lately to see what the current value might be.

SFIDEC · #6 12-21-2021, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handejector

Also-
the front sight is an ivory bead that was fairly common back in the day. Is it marked Lyman?

Here are a couple more pictures. I don't see barrel serial number unless I'm looking in wrong place. Also, I didn't see the Lyman sight stamp until you mentioned it and I blew up picture to see it.
Thanks so much!
Ray

handejector · #7 12-21-2021, 04:39 PM

The number should be here-

Model 91 6" Barrel - Gun Show Find-s-w-m91-pic-10-jpg

Higher numbers are often broken up with some on one side and the rest on the other.
It appears that barrel is not numbered.

rct269 · #8 12-21-2021, 06:39 PM

My 2nd Model Single Shots sold in the last two years as follows (Gun Broker Auction), condition was comparable to that show here.

10"-------$800

8"--------$1200

6"--------$1750

Ralph Tremaine

SS336 · #9 12-21-2021, 06:58 PM

That is very cool. I have never even seen one in the flesh. Not in the pedestrian places I hang out.
Maybe I need to get out more. 😳
How rare are they?

SFIDEC · #10 12-21-2021, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rct269

My 2nd Model Single Shots sold in the last two years as follows (Gun Broker Auction), condition was comparable to that show here.

10"-------$800

8"--------$1200

6"--------$1750

Ralph Tremaine

Mercy---That is amazing!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Think I'll run down to McDonalds at get a milk shake.
Make that a double.
Ray

rct269 · #11 12-21-2021, 09:00 PM

It's unlikely getting out more is going to be much help. Staying home and reading some books, on the other hand, is very likely to hep immeasurably. The books are Smith & Wesson 1857-1945. It was written by "Neal & Jinks"------both of whom may be considered as having been there and done that. Another one is History of Smith & Wesson----written by the same Jinks as noted above. Another one is Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson-----a more current publication----heavier too.

Now, here's some commentary you're not going to find in any of them. It comes from me----messing around. Someone mentioned the grooves on the side of the receiver. I used to think they were there to break up what would otherwise be a fairly large open space----pure aesthetics----same goes for the grooves on the sides of the 3rd Model. Then there's the treatment of the bottom of the barrel lug on the 3rd Model. It's the same barrel forging as for the 1st and 2nd models, but it needs to needs to be ground flat to fit in the Perfected frame (as modified for single shot use), but it's ground to be a whole lot more than flat. It's ground flat---then chamfered on the entire perimeter, and then treated to an oval depression in the center. I've come to call that "fancy flat". Now I don't know that much about running a milling machine, but it figures it costs more to grind something to fancy flat, than just plain flat. So why'd they do that? What were they trying to accomplish by spending the extra time---and money?

I decided they did it to lose some weight----in certain places. Same goes for the grooves on the side of the receiver. Does that make any sense? We'll see. I hung three 10" single shots (1st, 2nd, 3rd) by the trigger guards on a dowel rod resting on the backs of two chairs. The angle of the dangle (the balance) of all three guns was virtually identical----very likely would've been identical if not for the 1st Model speciman. (It had been shipped to Germany to begin with, and came back with different sights (both front and rear---heavier), and a different mainspring (shorter/lighter). All of this quest for identical balance didn't happen by accident.

The bottom line with these pistols is they won a lot of matches---attracted a lot of attention to Smith & Wesson, and S&W did everything they could to keep it coming.

Ralph Tremaine

ol777gunnerz · #12 12-22-2021, 08:52 AM

It would be interesting to get a factory letter on the pistol. The barrel not being serial numbered will drop the value a bit, but could be recovered if letters as a 6 inch. Either way, a nice find.