Recently acquired a couple of S&W Chemical Company gas guns to add to the collection. The model 209/277 is a 1 1/2” caliber and has a 7.5” barrel and the model 276 is a 37mm, stocked carbine with a 14” barrel. Both using the N-Frame design. I’m not sure if S&W would have any records on the two, but it would be nice to have factory letters on both.




Information from: forgottenweapons.com

The Smith & Wesson company was purchased by the Bangor Punta conglomerate in 1964, and BP also owned one of the early pioneers in police tear gas products, the Lake Erie Chemical Company. Once it had both companies under single ownership, the decision was made to rebrand the tear gas product line as the Smith & Wesson Chemical Company. S&W was obviously a brand with lots of recognition in law enforcement, so this was a good idea. S&W began production of a new model of 37mm tear gas launcher using the N frame revolver clockwork, coupled with a simple break action barrel. The system was available as either a pistol – and a nautical line-throwing version was also made. This is probably the finest quality tear gas or flare gun ever made, as the clockwork from the revolvers gives it a great single action and double action trigger pull compared to the typical utilitarian flare gun.

A variety of projectiles were made, including short-range, long-range, and barrier penetrating models (see poster below). These were all available loaded with smoke, CS, or CN gas. Production appears to have ceased in 1984, when the Bangor Punta conglomerate was bought out, and Smith & Wesson sold off from it shortly thereafter.

__________________
Justin
S&WCA #3623 S&WHF #814

WOW! Just when you start to feel like you are beginning to get a real handle on the S&W product line, something like this gets posted - showing you just how much more there is to learn!
Too cool...

__________________
Send lawyers, guns & money...

Circa 1976. The tear gas fogger at the bottom of the poster. I had started dating my now wife and after a date we were standing outside talking when her dad comes home, and I got an introduction. He was showing off his new van, and in the back were 3 trash cans of PR24's and a S&W Stainless steel fogger. He said he was teaching a crowd control class the next day!

Not a man to treat his daughters poorly!

Ivan

I was on a few ships in the 70s that had S&W line throwing guns. Never saw them in use, were used to send a long, small diameter, messenger line to another ship or shore. Had a long barrel similar to the shoulder gas gun. Aft of the barrel looked similar to the smaller gas gun.
Projectile was inserted in barrel, and ignition cartridge was inserted in the breach, which ignited the rocket portion of the projectile. Realistic range was about 300 yards.
Small Coast Guard patrol boats I was on had modified Springfield ’03 rifles that used projectiles powered by a grenade launching cartridge.
Kevin G

Not sure who made our gas guns when I was on swat in late 80s but I remember they had one of those floggers. Don’t think it was ever even tested let alone used. Right around the time they traded the Thompson’s and M-76 smg for M16s……

Certainly not the entire set, but it’s a start!

__________________
Justin
S&WCA #3623 S&WHF #814