I used to be involved in SASS, and even though we used single actions, It was kind of an unwritten rule, that if someone showed you their old DOUBLE action, you had to be careful not to break it by working the action (at least that was what I was told).
that got me to thinking is there a year that makes a S&W so old, that it shouldn't be shot on a regular basis?


thanks

IMO, not a year but rather an era. Carried to extremes you wouldn't want to shoot hi velocity .22s in a tip up Smith. Coming back to reality, I would be cautious shooting any Smith made prior to WWI. YMMV

Only when I attempt to drive, or use a step ladder.

I had a minor spat with a Pedestrian the other day. I attempted to calm her down without success. I finally explained to her that if she and her "rug rats" did not like the way I was parking, to get the hell off the sidewalk. Some folks got no respect for their elders.

Have a good and a safe Labor Day weekend All.

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Always Stay Strong!

Only if I'm awaken from a nap.

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Sheriff Russell Cottle. ret

Being shot I'd say no.
As previously stated using the "appropriate" ammo can be very important however.
Cylinder hardness being a big factor.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Early Colt double actions (Lightning and Thunderer models) are known to have extremely fragile small parts inside that are obsolete and difficult to reproduce. if you have one that works, don't break it!
The early Smith & Wesson large frame double action .44's are a little finicky, but mostly due to abuse in the past. Parts for these are fairly easy to come by and if you take care of a working gun, it isn't likely to break.
Same holds true of the .32 and 38 Smith top breaks. If you have a good one, it isn't too difficult to keep it that way and still shoot it occasionally.

S&W Hand Ejectors (with the exception of the tiny Ladysmiths) are extremely robust. I shoot my good working condition 1896 and 1899 revolvers without any concern.
I only shoot my Ladysmiths (and my 1860s tipups) with .22 short CB Caps loads. (basically a bullet and a primer with very little powder).

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

IMO: Good advise!
Jim

A collector* once told me that the .32 and .38 Double Actions were not particularly durable. Not dangerous, just Smith's equivalent of the Lightning, first generation double action with some fragile parts.
(Italiansport, please advise source of parts, a friend has one lacking only the self-sprung cylinder stop.)

I would not worry about a sound one for the amount of shooting a SASS Pocket Pistol gets, though.

*I got most of my old S&W information from J.W. Oliver, who was a regular at the Ohio shows in his day. Since deceased.

Parts breakage is a valid concern, and it isn't necessarily confined to pre-WWI. An early Model 39 with the long extractor, that extractor is no longer made and is beyond difficult to find a replacement. But as has been said, ammo selection is crucial. You don't shoot modern shotgun shells out of a Damascus barrel, and you don't shoot Buffalo Bore .45-70 out of an original, 1800's Sharps.

I agree with the comments with those that say it depends.
On ammo and on condition. I have shot a couple of my 32 single action spur trigger guns, a couple of my double action 32s and even my 44 Russian double action. If they are in decent condition and the ammo is loaded to the levels of the time of manufacture there is nothing dangerous about these guns unless your standing in front of one of them.

I first check them out just like I would any used gun I get. Timing, lock up. push off, etc.

I don't fire them much, but thats only because, as stated, parts are hard to find.

old bear really isn't. Cleaning the back side of his fridge with a weed blower and being a tiny bit cranky does not even qualify him as a curmudgeon. I'll bet he only parked at an odd angle because he was distracted eyeing that young mother's, eh, equipment. So he's not dangerous, yet, but when the right lady comes along he might get down right dangerous.

k22fan, Come on pal don't give all my secrets

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Always Stay Strong!

Don't mess with old guys, they don't want to take a beating, they're too tired to run, so they'll just shoot you and be done with it!

Froggie

I shoot my old Safety Hammerless fairly often. Its a great old gun.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Are there not some lawyers here to help. In the words of an old Clint E. movie "I have rights".

Webleys of WWI and earlier may break hammer noses/firing pins, stirrup lock springs, and mainsprings.

A gunsmith welded a firing pin back on and it worked. A broken stirrup lock spring and a mainspring were replaced with spare original parts.

This was with common MK VI guns.

If you break a part on a fine old WG or a Wilkinson-Webley, replacements may be hard to get.

I won't shoot modern ammo in guns older than MK V in the military .455 series, especially if warm handloads. And load .45 ACP converted ones to .455 pressures.

Be aware that U S M-1917 .45's have heat treated cylinders, as the US Govt. demanded that. But the almost identical MK II .455's DO NOT have heat treated cylinders. If you have one converted to .45 Colt, DO NOT entertain ideas of firing Ruger ONLY loads in one.

I regular shoot(a lot) my win mdl 12(1919) and my Win mdl 1897(1917). Wish no concerns or worries.

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S&W Accumulator