I left the house today with the intention of buying a new gun safe and possibly attending the Bessemer Alabama gun show. I decided to head down to the show, about 1 1/2 hour drive, since I had never been to that one. This is what I found today! It is a Model of 1891 Single shot in .22LR. It shows some slight normal wear but the bore is perfect, it couldn't have been shot much if any. The action is tight as a tick and the grips are in excellent shape and strongly checkered. The finish is mostly patina but it doesn't appear to be refinished although the lettering on the barrel shows some sign of buffing or heavy polishing. The serial number is where I am going to need some expert help...on the front of the grip, 3 of the numbers are strong but it appears there may be one or two more numbers and they are nearly worn through. I cannot find any numbers on the barrel or the latch but I may not be looking in the right spots. There are not any markings under the grips. All in all a nice gun show find. Oh, I got my safe today too! A nice big one!
Best Regards, ~Chef

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I left the house today with the intention of buying a new gun safe and possibly attending the Bessemer Alabama gun show. I decided to head down to the show, about 1 1/2 hour drive, since I had never been to that one. This is what I found today! It is a Model of 1891 Single shot in .22LR. It shows some slight normal wear but the bore is perfect, it couldn't have been shot much if any. The action is tight as a tick and the grips are in excellent shape and strongly checkered. The finish is mostly patina but it doesn't appear to be refinished although the lettering on the barrel shows some sign of buffing or heavy polishing. The serial number is where I am going to need some expert help...on the front of the grip, 3 of the numbers are strong but it appears there may be one or two more numbers and they are nearly worn through. I cannot find any numbers on the barrel or the latch but I may not be looking in the right spots. There are not any markings under the grips. All in all a nice gun show find. Oh, I got my safe today too! A nice big one!
Best Regards, ~Chef

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Did you look on the underside of the latch?

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Thanks Chad for the post showing the location. This number doesn't match the grip number. Is there a number on the barrel somewhere? Regards, ~Chef
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Chef,

Great find! I couldn't have passed that one up either.
The barrel serial should be between the little ears, just in front of the thumb latch that's shown in the above picture. If you raise the thumb latch, you should be able to see it on the rearmost flat. The numbers are very small.
If the grips are original, it will be inside the right hand grip. It's also sometimes on the inside of the sideplate. These are just generalities, as I don't own a .22 single shot yet. I do have topbreaks in just about all of the revolver variations, though.

BTW, ALL the above numbers should match on these, including the latch. If it doesn't, then some parts have been swapped.

Chris

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Chef, Look between the "ears" of the barrel on each side of the latch for very small numbers stamped there. If no numbers, then the barrel is a parts barrel. sold separately from the gun. If the latch number doesn't match the number on the grip frame, then there is a high probability the gun is made up from parts, insofar as the addition of the barrel & latch are concerned. This is common with the Model of 1891 Single Shots, as S&W sold very few complete sets, with all three barrels h& the gun having the same serial numbers. Many buyers bought the gun in one caliber, maybe .22, and later added spare barrel in .32 & .38 cals. but the extra barrels were unnumbered.

Thanks again for the good info. From what I can tell there are no numbers on the barrel. There aren't any numbers on the grips either. I'm trying to get some good pictures of the serial number so maybe Mr. Jinks can letter this one. I'm hoping that he can read the worn numbers better than I can. Best Regards, ~Chef

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Looks like the latch is from a double action or safety hammerless, and with no serial number on the barrel, it probably is a parts gun. As opoefc mentioned, that is not all that uncommon with these single shots. I have 4 of the extra 1891 barrels lying around, one 6" .22 that is blued, one 10" .32 that is nickel, one 6" .38 and one 8" .38 that are still in the factory white. I'd like to get them all fixed up, but you can't find the proper latch or ejectors for them anymore. They do make a nice addition for display, though.

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1891SingleShot

I had a Model 1891 .22 10 inch barrel #18255. Sold around 1897. Was deceased wifes gun.

Well, I went to the range with it last week just to function test it. I was using Federal Champion solid lead 40 gn loads. I didn't think those would be anywhere near dangerous for this old piece. My heart sunk when I squeezed the trigger on the first round. A light click and ...nothing. I figured the hammer nose was buggered but it turns out the spring is a bit on the weak side. I locked it back up and it shot fine after a second hammer drop. I shot around 20 rounds and it ftf about 1 in 4 but would fire fine on a second hammer drop. The spring tension screw is completely tight. Anyone got any suggestions? I don't think springs for these are still available. I was too busy trying to get consistant firing out of it to get any groups worth a hoot so I don't know how accurate it will be in the long run. After more careful examination of the bore it has some pitting along the edges of the rifling but the rifling is still strong. I sent off for a LOA from Jinks last week too, I'll post anything interesting when I get a reply.
Best Regards, ~Chef

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Oh yeah and some pics sporting the new wood I purchased from forum member cflier! I missed out on the gold medallion grips by a few minutes...oh well, I still prefer the wood over the BR. Regards, ~Chef

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