320 Revolving Pistol

[Boulder350]

I recently purchased this 320 Revolving Pistol. The frame, grips, cylinder, and butt stock are from a 320 Revolving Rifle. The barrel appears to be from a 32-44 with no serial number on it, just a W. The latch is serial number 20401.

The gun has been worked on, but it was a long time ago. For some reason the ejector in the cylinder is shortened so the shells don't extract as far. The extractor star is misaligned with the serial number so that has been apart and the hinge pin is misaligned.

Since I have have brass for the the 320 RR, some bullet molds for the 32-44, and some loading tools for the 32-44 and 32 Ideal, I plan on shooting this one someday.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

I saw that one when it came up for auction a short while ago.
I was tempted but I don't need any more projects in my life.
Good Luck with it and keep us posted on your progress.

Cheers!
Webb

 

[BMur]

Hey Mark,
Interesting piece. I’m wondering about the cylinder length? Kinda looks like a long frame from your photos.
Photo 1&2 are Revolving rifle cylinders. Photo 3 is zoomed in on one of your photos.
Notice the Revolving Rifle has a short cylinder and long forcing cone. Most were actually made in 1879-1880. So short frame only. If yours is in fact a long frame then it can’t be a revolving rifle.

Murph

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

I will have to disagree with you on this one Murph. The frame looks
right to me. The barrel isn't correct but we know this. The long exterior
conical taper on the breach of the barrel is different (it isn't a 'forcing
cone'). I assume this was done to allow the gases to escape and reduce
fouling clogging the cylinder's rotation.

The real interesting thing (to me) would be to see if the butt stock
serial number matches. The butt stock is definitely from a 320 Rifle.
There are two points that identify it. One, there is a place for the op-
tional peep sight. Only the stocks for the 320 had this. Two, the long
lower tang. This was different from the butt stock that could be or-
dered for a NM#3 (short lower tang).

From the serial number, this 320 originally had a 20" barrel.

Cheers!
Webb

 

[Boulder350]

The cylinder length is 1 7/16" long. I never noticed the cone on the breach side of the barrel is different on the revolving rifle. I don't have the thin blade screwdriver set yet so I can't remove the walnut from the metal to see the serial number on the metal of the stock.

I thought someone would just take a barrel from the 32-44 revolver and install it on the gun, leaving the target sights on it. Not sure why it has regular service sights on the barrel, front and back. The front blade looks like it was originally the 1/2 moon sight that was worked down to be shorter. The front sight retaining pin looks in perfect shape, like if it was removed and fitted with a new one, it was done by someone who knew what they were doing. None of my Grace screwdrivers fit the screw heads.

 

[glowe]

Wait, does this gun have a letter? That serial number appeared on a 320 RR, but also was an option for the New Model 3, as were the butt-stocks. I wonder if this revolver has anything to do with the 320 Revolving Rifle (not pistol)? The serial number could be an example of a very early manufacture NM3 since they started with serial number "1", and the factory made this model in that caliber. The rarity here could be the caliber, not the gun? Just asking?

 

[Boulder350]

Gary, I have sent in for a letter on this one. The grips are both mottled, but very dark. I pulled them to look for a serial number but can only see someones initials.

The ejector housing on the barrel is short and it does not have the metal to attach the forend of the revolving rifle. The early NM3 single action guns had a long ejector housing up until serial number 13,600. The bore diameter is the same for a 32-44 target and the 320 Revolving Rifle. The most logical scenario is that the frame is from a revolving rifle and the barrel was made for the 32-44 target revolver.

 

[Boulder350]

Thinking about Gary's comments some more. I had a gun that shipped to A. Oakley that had an early frame with a serial number in the 3,000 range that had a barrel with a short ejector housing. It factory lettered as a smoothbore gun with all matching serial numbers shipping in 1895 as one of two guns she received. I guess its possible for this gun, will see what the letter says for this one.

 

[BMur]

Easiest thing to do is carefully remove the side plate and see if you have a revolving rifle hammer. See photo.
All Revolving Rifle hammers have. adjustable Flys.

Murph

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

The ejector housing on the barrel is short and it does not have the metal to attach the forend of the revolving rifle. The early NM3 single action guns had a long ejector housing up until serial number 13,600. The bore diameter is the same for a 32-44 target and the 320 Revolving Rifle. The most logical scenario is that the frame is from a revolving rifle and the barrel was made for the 32-44 target revolver.

This is Mostly true. by the 1900's S&W was trying to move the
NM#3 out and they also were using up spare parts. I have a late
NM#3 sold to Takata & Co. that has a barrel with the long extractor
housing and is numbered to the gun.

Cheers!
Webb