I believe the barrel had been cut on this one, as I had never seen a 6", even though I knew they existed. I wish I still had it. It's a very accurate little pistol.

Attached Images

	Third Model 003.jpg (253.4 KB, 112 views)
	Third Model 004.jpg (257.9 KB, 83 views)

Yes, barrel was definitively cut as the replacement front sight is crudely fitted.

As with the 1st and 2nd Models, the 3rd was also available with 6" and 8" barrels. I count myself fortunate to have had one of each. I had about given up on an 8"------almost coming to believe the four 8" examples on the Club Gun List was the sum total. Then one day the phone rang, proving once again God's in his Heaven, and all's right with the world---or almost all's right with the world.

The 6" was #4807, the 8" just a bit away at #4826. It didn't take long to imagine both guns were quite possibly made on the same day----possibly enough to ask. Jinks went the extra mile, telling me 4807 was part of the production run of 31 units completed on May 9, 1911, while 4826 was part of the run completed on June 21, 1911; and was a single unit special order-------close, but no cigar! It was fun while it lasted.

It lasted long enough to create a mystery of sorts: It figures 4826, being a single unit special order is going to ship more or less immediately---and it did; June 24, 1911. 4807, on the other hand, went out on November 11, 1915. The auction house claimed 4807 was part of the factory display (and it had a superb finish and a pair of drop-dead gorgeous grips on it so it was easy to believe the hype). I asked about that too. The reply: "There is no indication that this handgun was ever part of the Smith & Wesson Office Display." The stories about how long some items sat on the shelf are common
enough such that something sitting around for four and a half years doesn't come as a big surprise, but it still makes you wonder at least a little bit.


Ralph Tremaine

Easy tell if the barrel has been cut. Look at the address line on the barrel rib. If centered, then it's original length. If it's off center, then it has been cut.

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Mike Maher #283

The 3rd Mod I had did have an 8" barrel, but different number.
When I lettered it, Roy told me the barrel was from a 2nd Model. It sure worked fine. The front sight was all beat up and not usable, so I had a machinist friend make me a new one.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

That’s the technical way to go about it, but I made the assumption that the crudely placed front sight was there for a reason—e.g., the barrel was cut.

Hey Chief, How does the Perfected perform as a target pistol compared to the 1st and 2nd. Does it require a smith to go through it to lighten the single action trigger?