The S&W 35 cal semi auto pistol

Jimbocious · #51 10-18-2020, 10:35 PM

Wow, this old thread has has some new life, so I'm hoping someone has a good answer to this question:

I also have a S&W model 1913 in the later .32acp, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to disassemble it and can't find instructions anywhere. Anyone have a good source for breakdown instructions? Thanks!

N7BLW · #52 10-18-2020, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUFF

.35 S&W Auto ammo hasn't been loaded since the beginning of WWII. The pistols themselves were only made and sold from May, 1913 to June, 1922, with a total of 8,350 pistols produced.

Over the years, I have located only one partial box of 35 S&W Auto cartridges and a few strays at gun shows to go with my first year production, three digit serial pistol. The box is marked ".35 SMITH & WESSON AUTOMATIC SMOKELESS" over 50 CENTRAL FIRE CARTRIDGES". "REMINGTON ARMS-UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE CO." They are jacketed softpoint bullets, which Jinks describes (in his book HISTORY OF SMITH & WESSON", published in 1977) as "half-mantle" bullets, with a very round lead tip. The cupro-nickel jacket is almost the same color as the exposed lead and for years, before really looking, I thought the entire bullet was lead and the ammo books were wrong. The base of the bullet, practically the entire bearing surface of it, is lead "for a good bearing surface and a long barrel life." (Jinks) The primer is copper-colored with "U" embossed on it. The head stamp is "35 S&W" on one side and "REM-UMC" on the other side. There is a solid cannelure turned in the case about 3/16" below the case mouth, probably at the base of the bullets.

The cartridges are rimless and look just about like a .32 ACP cartridge. Dimensionally they are quite close, the .32 being just a smidge larger in most measurements. Dave (I forget his last name) who ran "The Old Western Scrounger" advised those of us who inquired about buying .35 S&W Auto ammo to just shoot .32 ACP in our pistols.

Incidentally, I did, a magazine full of .32 ACP's, and they shot just like the .35 S&W rounds were probably supposed to.

I think that if S&W had initially chambered this pistol for the .32 ACP cartridge in 1913 instead of their own proprietary round, it may have sold well. The guns are very well engineered and work well, considering how early a semiautomatic pistol design they were.

Someday I will take one of the .35 S&W cartridges apart and see what the bullet weighs and looks like inside the case.

I have had a sealed box of this ammo for about 20 years. It accompanies my 35 auto whenever I decide to sell the gun.

Absalom · #53 10-18-2020, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbocious

I also have a S&W model 1913 in the later .32acp, but for the life of me I can't figure out how to disassemble it and can't find instructions anywhere. Anyone have a good source for breakdown instructions? Thanks!

Good question. I’ve never seen anything about this, and I’ve never had one.

Since the .32 version abandoned the back-hinge design that made the original so unique and replaced it with a more conventional slide, there has to be a way to disengage and slide that off the frame. Have you checked whether the trigger guard pivots down like on the original, maybe to free the slide for removal instead of the upper barrel/frame assembly for pivoting up?

PS: Looking at a picture of the .32 version, there appears to be a pivot pin in front of the trigger guard in about the right place. So disengage the breech block from the spring and pull it back, then see if you can pull the trigger guard downward. If that works, you can try to get the slide off. Good luck

GWW · #54 04-16-2022, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PALADIN85020

Here is my Model 1913 (shipped in October 1916) and a full box of .35 ammo for it. Yes, the ammo does fall into the collector category. I paid a pretty penny for this full box, which dates to October of 1913 per the date on the label.

I devoted a chapter to the Model 1913 in my book 101 Classic Firearms. For those who already have a copy of the book, it begins on page 60. For those who don't have one, call Dillon Precision at 1-800-223-4570 - it makes great reading for those who choose to or are forced to shelter in place during the current mess.

John

Hello John, I do believe the copy of an article sitting before me which came from an older Dillion Blue Press is yours? I am addressing Mr. John Marshall I presume? ;-) I reached into the back of my safe today and saw a forgotten pistol I had acquired some yeas ago, this is a WWII bring back, it was accompanied with a custom made leather flap holster with a military appearance to it but I highly doubt this pistol was ever an issued arm. I also have the original certificate our military gave to the vet giving him permission to bring the captured firearm back home, I purchased it locally from his widow years ago. At the time, my Father was still with us, Dad was an antique dealer, the vet's wife showed Dad the pistol and asked him if he knew anyone who could legally buy it from her. While Dad did not have a pistol permit I did, Dad asked me if I would be interested and that's how it came to be passed onto me. I'm not a collector, it's not something I would have been looking to purchase but I was drawn to it through the history and with great respect to her husband and his service. It's set well protected in my safe every since. I had fun researching the little Clements, reaching out to the gentleman who runs the website listed next, I was told my gun shows features of being a mid-year production gun between 1908-1909 as it shows features of both models, as can be seen here (Scroll down to the Clements listings) --> The Vestpocket Pistol Collector / Archive (Home page here -->The Vestpocket Pistol Collector / Der Taschenpistolen-Sammler)

It wasn't until I read your article in the Blue Press that I had realized the connection with S&W. Someday I'll need to find a home for it, an appropriate home. I do not want to leave it behind and have my family just dispose of it to some random gun dealer. Anyways, when I saw the gun today I thought I'd pull out the papers I had saved including your article and maybe finally let the world see this little piece of history, I think it's kinda neat and this thread looks like a good place to share. (and resurrect an old thread, it is resurrection weekend. :-) I have a copy of that Blue Press article in a photo format but I won't post or share without permission. Cheers and Happy Easter Everyone!