1875 Smith & Wesson Schofield “SCREWDRIVERS”??

[BMur]

Who made them?

I agree with Webb with one exception.
If we look at the 1874 Military Records specific to RULES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE Springfield Rifle, Carbine, and Colt Revolver we see clear evidence that the Schofield tool (Photo 1) could have been manufactured for 15 cents in 1875.

So I believe that variation was the 3000 screwdrivers that were clearly contracted "BY SMITH & WESSON" to be sent with each revolver in 1875.

I also agree that it is possible that Smith & Wesson did not fabricate these screwdrivers in the factory but all the records and documents that I have read support that they were made by Smith & Wesson.

Other photos are price comparison of basically identical tools at the exact same time in history.

One last comment about the improved tool that Webb posted. It's possible that tool was part of the 2nd Model shipment but the 1st model contained 3000 screwdrivers of an early variant and likely very close to that patent drawing.

I'm wondering also if that early tool has a patent stamped on it. That would be awesome if it does.

Murph

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


I don't think the screw driver patented by Major Schofield in figure
1 could be made for 15 cents considering the number of parts and
the time required for fabrication and assembly. Plus, other than the
patent drawing, has anyone ever seen one? At least the "L" tool
is known and was photographed (but not positively identified as
the Schofield Screw Driver).

I've attached a poor copy of the parts list for the S&W .44 from
the 1877 "Price List of Ordinance Stores" circa 1877. This is the
price list for replacement parts for the 1,000 No. 3 American models
the Army bought in 1871. These parts were not fabricated by the
Springfield Armory because in the S&W letters file, there are many
requests for replacement parts submitted to S&W by the Army.
It wouldn't be cost effective for the Springfield Armory to tool-up
to make those parts considering the small number of revolvers in
the field and the demand.

So, all I can say is "let's agree to disagree."


Cheers!
Webb