Until recently, the oldest S&W in my collection was an M&P Model 1902, which I inherited from my paternal grandfather. I also have an older design, a .32 Safety Hammerless, but it was shipped in 1921. Recently I did a trade with an old friend, and have now acquired this Model 1, Second Issue, which, according to Roy Jinks, left the factory in August, 1866. I muse that at that time, my maternal grandfather was a year old, and just learning to walk as a toddler. He later went on to ride shotgun on the Wells Fargo stage between Tombstone and Bisbee, Arizona Territory; the Western frontier and Indian fighting was not yet over at that time in the late 19th Century.

So - here's the new longevity champ among my S&Ws. What's yours?

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

The oldest s&w that i own is currently the only s&w that i own it is a s&w model victory that left the factory in July 1944

I've had a .455 MK II, which I finally sold for college tuition when my GI Bill check was late. And I never could find fresh ammo for it...

Currently, my oldest is a M-66-3, bought new in 1990. It still looks almost new, despite being carried at work for so many years. My holsters are lined with soft leather, which probably helped to avoid holster wear. A few tiny scuffs over the years were polished off with Simichrome and elbow grease, something I like about stainless guns.

It stays loaded for home defense, now with Speer's 125 grain Plus P .38 ammo, as I don't like thinking about what firing .357 loads indoors might do to my hearing. Sometimes, it gets lead Plus P HP ammo like the old load used by the FBI, Dallas, and Miami-Dade PD's, etc. In the outdoors, it can use .357's, and my choice is Federal's 158 grain Hydra-Shok.

I don't buy S&W's made after about 1995 or so. Ruger has gotten my business on newer revolvers.

I'll play. My oldest would probably be the 4th md. Squeezer below, I don't have a date on it......, but I believe 1907 was the end of the 4th series.



Or maybe this first year .44 Triplelock.



John, I wish I coud take pictures even remotely close to the ones you post. I'm gonna keep experiementing with the camera, even though it's only a cheapy.

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Big Fred

This is not my oldest Smith and Wesson. That would be the same model 1 second issue as Palladin have.

But this New Model 3 in .44 Russian from around 1880 is back in service again.

I gonna use this revolver to shoot at the blackpowder only match at the Westernweekend by Davy Crockett at Horst.

It shoots very good and accurate. I hope to shoot myself in the top 3.
Beside that I love this revolver and it is a joy to shoot it.

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For ac ouple of years it was a Model 1902 from that year, but about 6 months ago I traded into a 1896 38 Safty Hammerless first model. While not a Smith, I do have most of a 1855 Root 32. These old revolvers help me realize I'm not so old.

Fred, that's a fine picture of that triple lock, and it appears to be in really nice condition. I'm envious of that one! Thanks for posting!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

John, Thanks for the kind words. The Triplelock is really nice and original. It's got some marks here and there, but overall I'm very happy with it. The penciled serial number is still very clear on the inside right grip panel. It was an auction site revolver that I took a chance on and it turned out better than expected!

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Big Fred

I like this game.....
My oldest is my S&W Model 1, 2nd.....shipded Aug.1862



Terry

That's in very nice shape, Terry - and four years older than mine!

Great photos!

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

My oldest is a Mod. 1 1/2, 32 RF 1st Issue. From all indications it is unfired. The bluing above the B/C gap is pristine and undisturbed, and no evidence in either the chambers or bore of it ever having been fired. It dates to Jan 1866.


It is just a little older than my Mod. 1, 2nd Issue, July 1867.


One of these days I am going to have to build a light tent and try and take some more serious photo's.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

No light tent necessary. Use some white background (even a sheet of copy paper will do), take it out and place it in the shade on a sunny day, and take your pictures. The light will be diffused, just like a light box, it's simple, quick and easy. I do it with most of my firearms pictures. Great for taking pictures of rifles, too - few lightboxes are big enough for that. No need to get all fancy when you have the tools already! Here's an example:

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

My oldest......

1st Model of 1899 Probably about 1901


2nd runner up....

U.S. Army Model 1917 Probably about 1918 (I've actually owned this one the longest!)


Okay, 3rd place goes to.....

.32 Hand Ejector 3rd Model Probably about 1919-20


Celebrate Diversity!!

My oldest is my S&W Model 1, 1 issue.....shipded 1859
How do you put the photos in large format?

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add an image tag to the front and the back of the address

[IMG] [/IMG]

to get

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S&WCA #2018

This .44 american. It is serial # 4730. I suspect it was made in 1870 or 1871. That is about 3 or 4 years before the the colt single action army was available to the public. This one has had the barrel cut back and a semi crude front sight added. The front of the barrel was done well, nicely crowned.
This one has got to have some nice history. Here is what I know or was told. A friend of mine was given it by a old couple he knew in his church. They gave it to him because they knew he liked guns. They said it was found in montanna in a old barn that was tore down at the site of a old stage coach stop. It cost me a old marlin mountie.
While well used, I speculate it was cut down by a serious indivigual whether lawman, outlaw or civilian. I suspect outlaw more likely, as why would a lawman or anyone else hide it? The gun is even old enough to have been carried by someone at the little big horn! Sure wish it could talk! I know one thing, it was well used, must have seen action and a more advanced type gunman would have had it cut down. Most "collectors" go for condition. I love these old guns that were used for what they were bought for instead of hid away for 140 years unused to be handeled with white gloves by a wealthy "discriminating" collector.

[IMG][/IMG]
test to front

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I have a Wesson percussion target pistol like in the front of Jink's book...does that count?

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Lost it all in a boat accident

A 3rd Model that dates to 1980. Don't know anything about it's history as I picked it up at a Flea Market for a real good price and thought it would be great to have a S&W that is 132 years old.

I love the old ones! The Model 1 should be a part of any S&W collection. It represents a marvelous piece of technology that has survived untold abuse over its 150+ year life.

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Howdy

These two are my oldest. The little No 1 3rd Issue shipped in September of 1870, the Model 1 1/2 Second Issue shipped in January of 1873.

I just posted mine in another thread. But I like to show it off, so here it is again...

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Misty

Just got the letter from Mr. Jinks, I'm happy with it! S&W 1 1/2 SA left factory on May 13 1878 shipped to M. W. Robinson of NY

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Does this count, it's not a revolver but it's nice, and as old as it gets as far as cart. guns go.
Regards
H. M. Pope

I have quite a few old ones, but here is my oldest, with its brothers. The top 1st 1st 3rd with a SN of 1496, next is a 1st 2nd SN 20XXX and the 1st 3rd is a later one.

I just got the 1st 1st 3rd earlier this year and I'm very happy to finally have one

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}-----Jim----->
~SWCA #2732~