I know that some of the New Model #3's, Russians & Americans were fitted with shoulder stocks. What was the purpose of these stocks? I'm guessing it helped improved accuracy..?

Does anyone know who originally used these and how they were used? I know they exist but just haven't read very much information about them.

Thanks!

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

I know that some of the New Model #3's, Russians & Americans were fitted with shoulder stocks. What was the purpose of these stocks? I'm guessing it helped improved accuracy..?

Does anyone know who originally used these and how they were used? I know they exist but just haven't read very much information about them.

Thanks!

__________________
Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

digi-shots, I believe your assumption of accuracy is correct. There are several examples of .32-44 and .38-44 Target NM#3s existing. The early Americans and Russians with shoulder stocks were not known "contract" examples as were the Australian examples. I'm still looking for a BLUE NM#3 revolver as most were nickel. Mike

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Mike Maher #283

mmaher..

Thanks for the reply. I figured it might be for accuracy. It just seems to me it would be easier to just use a rifle for both distance & accuracy.

I know S&W wasn't the only manufacturer to use shoulder stocks... I believe both Luger & Webley offered them as well.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Colt offered shoulder stocks also.

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SWCA # 2294

AS did Browning, Stevens, Marbles and others. Frankly I am not sure what the logic was in restricting them in the 30's. I've never found a contemporary reference to a shoulder stocked pistol being used in a crime.

The detachable shoulder stocks really DO help improve the accuracy of a handgun. although it's not a S&W, I have a Mauser C-96 Broomhandle that shoots almost as well as a rifle when the shoulder stock is attached. It reverts back to a much closer-range gun without the shoulder stock.

I'm not sure if I'd want to use a sholder stock with a revolver, though. The gas & flame coming out of the cylinder/barrel gap would be awfully close to the shooter's face and eyes! This doesn't even consider the possibility lead being shaved if the cylinder is out of time!!!

Linda, it was quite common around the turn of the last century for Officers to have to supply their own sidearms. Many manufacturers offered "combinations" so the Officer had more flexibility in his weapon. The C96 Mauser is a perfect example, it was promoted as "Sistema Mauser', not even as a pistol, but as a combination carbine first, then as a sidearm.

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Always bet on stupidity.

Because Clyde Barrow used stolen, cut down BARs to commit his crimes. They wanted to outlaw short barreled rifles and everyone knows that a stocked NM#3 is just as deadly as a shortened BAR.

DeaconKC,

Thanks! I've seen the wooden Mauser holster/stocks. They're kinda insteresting.

I'm looking at a Webley shoulder stock and just wondered what the various manufactures (Colt, S&W, Mauser, Luger, etc..) intentions were for their usage.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

Per the 1989 Jinks' article on Reg Mags, pp.20-21: “…The President of the Infantry board, Fort Benning, GA, ordered two 8 ¾” barrels, with Sheard gold bead front sights, U notch rear sights, and sighted in at 300 yards. These guns were shipped in September and October of 1937 as a government order and were not assigned registration numbers. In fact, these revolvers were fit with a detachable shoulder stock by the U.S. Government to aid in more accurate long range shooting….”

Onomea,

Thanks for that information. I saw a photo of a S&W with shoulder stock in Charlie Pate's book, U.S. Handguns of WWII.

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

To: digi-shots

Just saw this discussion so here is another take on shoulder stocks. I have a Kentucky pistol cut for a shoulder stock. It was made by a mid-1800's Kentucky rifle maker named A. Selden of Whitehall N.Y. In my dreams I find the missing attachable stock that goes with it.

lawlor check out Dixie Gun Works, they might have one or a reproduction!

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Always bet on stupidity.

Not only were Shoulder Stocks for Revolvers and Automatics offered but much earlier the Colt Company offered a Revolving Rifle and at least one model of a Revolving Shotgun. In one of the John Wayne movies one of the "characters" begins to use one to "Ring the Church Bells" and he experiences what is called a "Chain Fire" where more than one Chamber fires at the same time. I understand nobody was hurt and the rifle wasn't damaged but likely only because it wasn't loaded with anything more than powder and wading. Cabela's offers one of the reproductions and also used to offer the Revolvers with the Shoulder Stocks. These are all Black Powder and you do need to be very careful when firing them as a pretty fair amount of powder gasses escape between the barrel and cylinder.

Some M-1911A1s and even Browning High Powers were fitted with Shoulder Stocks as late as the Second World War. Most of these have been declared to be "Curios" and can be owned legally but that is Federal Law and some States don't accept such things.

Converting a "Modern" Pistol to a Rifle is considered to be OKay as long as you use a Barrel that is at least 16 inches long or more. But, going the other way around requires a special Federal License. The recent introduction of the Ruger Charger is based on their Model 10/22 and is an example.

It sounds O.K. to most people, but a number of years ago the BATFE had a problem with it. There is a firearm that is easily changed from pistol to carbine and the BATFE went in front of a federal judge showing how a pistol barrel could easily be used with a rifle stock to make a short barreled rifle (SBR) which is restricted under the National Firearms Act. They were trying to show the judge how drug dealers and other violent criminals could use these to commit their criminal acts. Fortunately the judge knew enough about the Thompson Center Contender that he dismissed their claims, but don't go looking at the T/C website for a 16" barrel.

Here are a couple I used to own. The lugar was a 1906 german commercial .30 cal with a idea shoulder holster stock. They used them on other guns too.



This one was colt made repos commemertives I had.