The S&W .35 Auto model of 1913 is found now and again. Individual rounds of the ammo are very scarce, almost never found (I think they quit making it in the 1930s). Finding a full box of the stuff would be like a violinist snagging a Stradivarius.

Today was my lucky day. I made contact with a cartridge collector who allowed that he might have a box of that old stuff lying around somewhere. He called today. Bonanza! Reading the label on the box, Winchester produced these rounds in October of 1913. The gun itself left the factory in October, 1916.

This has to be the most expensive ammo I've ever purchased. But no matter. The gun and ammo are finally united. I can't wait to go out to the range and shoot it up....

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Fantastic! Save a few rounds for 2016 so you can celebrate her 100th in style!

You know this really belongs in the S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 section. If you note the subtitle:
"All 5-Screw & Vintage 4-Screw SWING-OUT Cylinder REVOLVERS, and the 35 Autos and 32 Autos." If you want it moved, just ask.

I think most people don't know about the .35 and .32 autos of that era. I know I don't know enough.

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Dave

Very neat, that ammo still looks great after all these decades. Nice find.

Do you reload the brass?

I'm really looking forward to your range report.Function, recoil, and accuracy. I'm just sorry that S&W had to go with a non-standard round.
Did they do that to have a proprietary hold on a market that never materialised? TACC1

You knew I was kidding about shooting this ammo, right?

S&W engineers thought that the then-standard .32 ACP jacketed round would result in too much wear on the barrel, giving it a shorter useful life. They developed a round very close in dimensions to the .32 that was just a smidge larger in diameter. This round, the .35 S&W, had a jacketed nose for good chambering characteristics. However, the shank of the bullet that actually contacted the bore was not jacketed - it was lead. This two-piece bullet was unique, as was the gun the fired it.

Because of the similarities in dimensions, .32 ACP ammo can be fired in the .35 auto, albeit with poorer accuracy and power.


John

__________________
- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -