My newest old gun: S&W Perfected

Redcoat3340 · #1 11-09-2018, 10:09 PM

So I've been looking (and posting) about acquiring a Perfected for a while and one of the members here offered one to me. A great guy to deal with and the gun came today.

It's great looking both inside and out and I'll be at the range, hopefully, over the weekend to try it out.

Of course its in .38S&W, made, he said, in 1909, nickel in great shape (and a little "Mother's" polish has it sparkling), and I had a extra set of J-frame grips (I've got a half-dozen "extra" sets of J-frame grips) which gives me a bit more to hang on to than the original plastic grips.

My only concern is I gotta do two things at once to open the cylinder....this gun has a belt and suspenders: a regular top break latch and a cylinder release. You have to lift the latch up and push on the release at the same time. I hope I'm up to the task!

From my research I shouldn't have a problem shooting modern loads in it and I really like the sights, not just a groove down the top of the frame...but, while really small, an actual rear sight.

Here's a pic with the new grips pre-polishing and one from the seller.

shouldazagged · #2 11-09-2018, 10:40 PM

Very nice indeed.

Tony M. · #3 11-09-2018, 10:47 PM

I have what may be the ugliest perfected model out there, but I'll be darned if it isn't still tight and shoots to the sights... I'm sure you'll enjoy your (much prettier) gun, and after a couple boxes of ammo, the opening mechanism become second nature...

STCM(SW) · #4 11-09-2018, 11:20 PM

Here is mine, and I did letter it....
https://i.postimg.cc/hPBVBFQY/38-S-W-001.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/FFg70Y1P/letter.jpg

Driftwood Johnson · #5 11-09-2018, 11:38 PM

Howdy

I used to think the Perfected model was the dumbest thing since, well I don't know what. But then I found one, and now I can't seem to stop myself.

Left to right, shipped in 1912, 1917, and 1913, refinished in 1951.

Although I am usually adamant about only shooting old Top Breaks with Black Powder, these are new enough that I don't worry about shooting them with modern Smokeless ammo.

Redcoat3340 · #6 11-10-2018, 03:46 AM

Damn, Driftwood....do you mean one just ain't gonna be enough? Ya think I'll need another, and then another, and then.....

Oh, does it ever end?

(I gotta say, those blued ones look mighty nice. Hmmmm…….)

glowe · #7 11-10-2018, 10:23 AM

Please take your time when opening this model. If you try to do it like any other top-break, you run the risk of bending the quill and making the gun inoperable. Here is the thread if you are interested. Bargain or Bust?

I picked up a pristine 38 Perfected early this year, but when I received it, the lock-up did not work. As I disassembled the revolver, I found that the quill was bend downward just a small amount, but enough to not allow the center pin to enter the recoil shield locking hole. Fortunately, I was able to re-bend and align the quill and the gun operates perfectly.

I have to say that I have never found the need for longer stocks with these mid-sized frame S&Ws. Sure the little finger might extend below the butt, but since there is no recoil, it is of little consequence. Your 1960s style stocks just do not do anything for me. Might consider picking up a set of period walnut or black hard rubber target stocks for I frames since they were available for purchase in the early 1900s. Here is a 1917 Perfected with reproduction stocks available for less than $50 with escutcheons and screw from vintagegungrips.com.