Is This a Real Mexican Model of 91?

[Boulder350]

This gun takes me back a few years. In July of 2016 I made my first post on this forum. At the time I had just bought a Mexican Model and wanted to know more about it, and if it was an original Mexican Model. Sent in for a letter on the gun and Roy said it probably was not an original Mexican model. I learned a lot in that original thread about my first Mexican model and in the 8 years since.

I have been on the lookout for a real Mexican Model of 91 that was affordable for the last 8 years. Most go for thousands so when this one came available, I couldn't hit the buy it now button fast enough ($350.99)

I don't have the gun in hand yet, it should arrive later this week. It looks like it could be an original to me. These are the only pictures I have so far and don't have a serial number yet.

What are your thoughts? Is this new gun a factory Mexican Model of 91? Looks like it was stored in a leather holster for many years.

 

[orbruce]

Does it have a rebounding hammer? The rebounding hammer seems to be one of the accepted criteria along with a flat sided hammer and the spur trigger insert. There has been some debate about flat sided hammers with a half cock notch, similar to the 38 Second Model, being used but that is far from being resolved. The early Parts Catalogs show both the bow trigger guard and the spur trigger for the Model of 1891 but only show one style of hammer i.e. the flanged hammer typically found on the Model of 1891 revolvers. The flat sided hammer is not shown in the Parts Catalogs for the Model of 1891. S&W refereed to the "Mexican Model" as the Model of 1880 in there catalogs.

B. Mower

 

[dltvette]

The only way to have 100% proof is by a factory letter stating so.
Dave

 

[Boulder350]

The gun will arrive later this week. Hopefully it does not have the 1/2 cock notch. The hammer sides are flat and the spur trigger looks to have been on the gun for a very long time. Will send in for a letter as soon as it arrives.

I have another potential Mexican model that has a very heavy refinish. Is has some correct features and one big suspect feature. Will include a letter request for this one too. Here is the analysis of the refinished one.

The good: The spur trigger looks like it was refinished too with the edges rounded. The hammer is flat sided, has the rebounding feature, and does not have a 1/2 cock notch. Removing the side plate the hammer looks like a Mexican.

The suspect feature: It has a low serial number 1463. According to my first letter the the Mexican model was not available until later in production.

We know that S&W did not ship guns in serial order number so it may be a real Mexican too. It looks like the best way to tell is by the shipping destination in the letters.

 

[dltvette]

This is the handout I had with my display at the Glendale, AZ symposium.

Smith & Wesson
.38 Single Action Mexican Model
Model No. 2 Mexican Model
Model 1880

This example with serial number 18691 was shipped from the Smith & Wesson factory on October 19, 1899 and delivered to Max Fiedler, Russian Agent, in St. Petersburg, Russia. In the Factory Letter, Roy Jinks states, “Your revolver is one of the original Mexican Models.”

This is a blued example with the serial number 18691 on the butt with only the 18 showing because the factory lanyard ring is installed through the serial number, hence the factory re-stamped the serial number on the left side of the frame under the left grip. 18691 is also stamped on the cylinder, the barrel, barrel latch and scratched on the inside of the right grip panel. It has a 4” barrel, round blade front sight inserted and pinned in the barrel rib. The rear sight is a U notch cut in the raised barrel catch stop. The hammer is equipped with a rebounding safety and full cock notch only, the half cock being omitted. The thumb piece is straight-sided rather than flanged. The spur trigger is the narrow .197 inch variation compared to the wide .255 variation. In the S&WCA Fall 2010 Journal, an article by Robert J. Neal titled “My Mexican Model” he states that the narrow trigger is rare.

This is a rare model manufactured by Smith & Wesson. In Smith & Wesson 1857-1945 by Robert J. Neal and Roy G. Jinks it states, “Total production of this model is unknown but is estimated to be very small, with perhaps 2,000 or few being made.
In the S&WCA Journal Volume 24, Number 2 - Summer 1990, Robert J. Neal states in his “The Mexican, A S&W Mystery Model”, “These guns were serial with the Model 1891, as were the First model Single Shots. This range was 1-28107. An estimated 1500 of these serials were assigned to the Single Shots. The author would guess, and I emphasize that it is only that, perhaps 1000 Mexican Models were made. Of that number, I feel sure no more than 50 are in collections in this country.”
“As a matter of fact, the model is so rare that most collectors have never seen one except in photographs.”
He concludes his article with, “So, in summary, we have described a very rare five shot revolver which was made in two variations, with four lengths of barrel, and two standard finishes. Target grips and sights were also available. There are a few very specialized collectors who will pick a particular model and try to acquire one example of each combination of variation available. Do not try it with this revolver, as all the combinations would make up more guns than are known to to be available in this country.”

I am very humbled and thankful to be the caretaker of this .38 Single Action Mexican Model with serial number 18691.
David Teeters
S&WCA Life Member #836
S&WHF Founding Member #142

 

[Boulder350]

Awesome display David. Wish I would have seen it in person.

 

[gunbarrel]

I remember David's display. It was a great display. As a fairly new member, I have been to the last two Symposium, and they are awesome. Can't wait for NC next year!

 

[orbruce]

The gun will arrive later this week. Hopefully it does not have the 1/2 cock notch. The hammer sides are flat and the spur trigger looks to have been on the gun for a very long time. Will send in for a letter as soon as it arrives.

I have another potential Mexican model that has a very heavy refinish. Is has some correct features and one big suspect feature. Will include a letter request for this one too. Here is the analysis of the refinished one.

The good: The spur trigger looks like it was refinished too with the edges rounded. The hammer is flat sided, has the rebounding feature, and does not have a 1/2 cock notch. Removing the side plate the hammer looks like a Mexican.

The suspect feature: It has a low serial number 1463. According to my first letter the the Mexican model was not available until later in production.

We know that S&W did not ship guns in serial order number so it may be a real Mexican too. It looks like the best way to tell is by the shipping destination in the letters.

Mark,

I have never seen a factory letter that showed a shipping address in Mexico or South America for a Model of 1891 "Mexican Model". Does anyone have a "Mexican Model" that was actually verified as being shipped to Mexico or South America?

B. Mower