I picked up a S&W book on flea-bay titled Smith & Wesson Handguns. It was written by Roy C McHenry and Walter F Roper.It's a red colored hardback dated 1945.In VG+ condition. Does anyone have any info about this book? Is it special in any way or hard to find? I paid a whopping $11.49 for it. Also it has a small sticker inside the cover that reads, Kirkwood Gun Shop, 23 Elm St. Boston Mass. Anybody ever heard of them?

At one time, this was probably the standard S&W reference. It has some data not easily found elsewhere. I think this is where I read that S&W heat-treated all cylinders on M-1917 .45's.

Read it. You'll see the value of it, and it isn't too easy to find. I think you got a good deal on it.

Keep in mind that it is an older book, and the authors were more in touch with company history that has now become more obscure.

My copy has a blue cover. I haven't seen one with a red cover, but various printings of many books differ in color.

I have been reading the book and checking out the pics in the back. It has been great being able to see what certain guns look like instead of guessing. A couple of examples being looking at an actual pic of a 2" victory model and seeing the .22 discussed in the rarest .22 thread. I'm finding some good stuff.

I liked the data on the pre-war guns, esp. the .357 Magnum and the info on what was then known of the Victory Model and the .38/200. At the time, production info on the latter was still classified.

The book also tells when various changes came to the guns, and I like the photos of the older guns.

Until I found that info on heat-treated M-1917 cylinders, we'd argued about it on the board, and Hand Ejector (board owner) still doesn't accept that the book is right. I think it odd that they'd have that info and print it then if the factory hadn't confirmed it. Evidently, the govt. felt better about that being done, given .45 ACP pressures. They may have heat-treatment data for other models, too. I haven't checked.

That book is full of holes. Roper did work at S&W, hardly made him an expert. Remember they wrote with the intention of making money. Anyone can write a book, few experts do. One example are the books written by Roy Jinks. Everything he has written, that I've read, is pretty much etched in stone!

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Don Mundell

Being the FIRST S&W Book there are a number of mistakes but it was a good effort. My copy of the book is a 1958 Stackpole printing with the red Dust Jacket, The original 1945 printing was by Standard Publications of Huntington, W. VA.

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Gun Safety is no accident.

But good news on the Kirkwood name!
Kirkwood Bros. was a gun shop, custom gunmaker and importer of some mighty fine guns in Boston in the first part of the 20 century. I have seen, double rifles, drillings and double shotguns with the Kirkwood name that one would be very proud to own.
An internet search would probaly turn up more info.

Steven, THANKS for the tidbit on the Kirkwood name. I have a first edition book with a classic gunshop connection. That's pretty cool.

I lettered my 4” Model 57 S237391 (delivered to Kirkwood Brothers Inc. Boston, Ma.) April 28, 1964. (1st month of delivery of the “57”)

I have the first edition printed in 1945 with the reddish brown cover. It came from the Gopher Shooters Supply that went out of business. I paid $75 for it about 10 years ago.

You got a good deal. I have seen some first editions go for $150 in good condition. It originally sold for $7.50 according to the brochure found in the my book. There are many reprints by various firms.

There are a number of editions of the book. Early ones can bring higher prices from collectors, but the info in the book is not all that accurate. I believe McHenry was an attorney and an alcholic and Roper was fired by S&W for conduct unbecoming a S&W employee. At the time it was published it was a welcome volume, as nothing else was available on S&Ws. You did OK for the price you paid. Ed

Don and Ed have it pretty well nailed----------"That book is full of holes."----"-------the info in the book is not all that accurate." I can't remember being so wrong about so many things as when I quoted that book.

It was my first S&W book---a first edition yet. I guess I'm truly astounded to learn there were subsequent editions, but I guess that old saying about different strokes for different folks has some truth to it.

Ralph Tremaine

I've got an original red 1945 copy of the book along with a blue "Pistol and Revolver Shooting" (second edition) by Roper.
This thread made me go look them up. Lot's of good ole pics.

Roger

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Eph 2:8-9

Uncle Ed, you may have mixed up rumors. Some say Roper was an alcoholic but I know of no evidence to support the rumor. McHenry was an attorney but was also a long-time FBI agent. He stayed with the DoJ Criminal Division even after his career as an FBI agent.

I agree with others that the book has some errors but it is an interesting read.

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208