OP
Just received the ship date from Roy Jinks......this one shipped June 1911
3rd Model Single Shot Perfected Target Pistol - New to me
- Thread starter THREEDFLYER
- Start date
EPILOGUE----------------------
Many of the stories we see, drool, and slobber over here just stop---and we just move on to the next one. This one has an ending-----a happy ending.
This is a righteous pistol---letters as "shipped with an 8" barrel" and as a "single unit special order". As usual the letter goes on to say: "We trust that the information furnished will be helpful as well as of interest to you." That it is, and that it was---sure enough!!
And in the truth is stranger than fiction department, the serial number, 4826, is 19 away from its 6" cousin (#4807) sitting on the shelf next to it.
Ralph Tremaine
Many of the stories we see, drool, and slobber over here just stop---and we just move on to the next one. This one has an ending-----a happy ending.
This is a righteous pistol---letters as "shipped with an 8" barrel" and as a "single unit special order". As usual the letter goes on to say: "We trust that the information furnished will be helpful as well as of interest to you." That it is, and that it was---sure enough!!
And in the truth is stranger than fiction department, the serial number, 4826, is 19 away from its 6" cousin (#4807) sitting on the shelf next to it.
Ralph Tremaine
I never met a S&W Single Shot I didn't like. I have 5, 3rd models, one nicer than the other but all 10" barrels, 2 of them Olympic.
A quick picture of the hang tags. Sorry guys, wasn't about to lay out all 5 for a photo shoot while getting ready for a show this weekend so just sent a quick teaser photo.
A quick picture of the hang tags. Sorry guys, wasn't about to lay out all 5 for a photo shoot while getting ready for a show this weekend so just sent a quick teaser photo.
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OP
Ralph, I am thrilled to hear that the gun letters as is.....I was wondering if you had gotten a letter on it! I am glad it has found a special place in the collection and that it went to someone who truly appreciates it. Have a wonderful holiday my friend.
IN GOOD COMPANY!!
I can see I'm in good company! I too have 5 3rd Models---the 6/8/10" standards, and two Olympics; the later short throat and the earlier "really short" throat.
Ralph Tremaine
I can see I'm in good company! I too have 5 3rd Models---the 6/8/10" standards, and two Olympics; the later short throat and the earlier "really short" throat.
Ralph Tremaine
ol777gunnerz
Member
Letter?
THREEDFLYER, have you gotten a factory letter for the pistol?
THREEDFLYER, have you gotten a factory letter for the pistol?
29aholic
Member
It appears that Ralph now owns that fine specimen and he himself lettered it to what it is.
Teaser alert, post 24, photo added.
Ralph, If I had your money, I'd burn mine.
Frankly, They can put mine in the box with me, just in case I need to pay "tribute" [bribe] to St. Peter .... or ... if not St. Peter ... the OTHER guy.
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- Joined
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I commend Tom for allowing Ralph to complete a long sought goal in his collection. True collectors.
Sometimes I just miss the intent of a forum post. Had I known you wanted to sell it, heck, my money is just as good as Ralph's. In fact, mine is U.S. currency not that old currency singed by Robert E. Lee. LOL.
Since I aced a 99% 1891 1st model single-shot in .38 S&W with a 6" barrel that Ralph created such a fuss over on a forum post, I suppose he was "due" this one.
Hey, if I couldn't get it or missed the deal, I'm truly happy that Ralph has it. We share the same passions on the single shot and some Model 3 variations. It could not have found a better home than with Ralph, EXCEPT, if it were with me.
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Sometimes I just miss the intent of a forum post. Had I known you wanted to sell it, heck, my money is just as good as Ralph's. In fact, mine is U.S. currency not that old currency singed by Robert E. Lee. LOL.
Since I aced a 99% 1891 1st model single-shot in .38 S&W with a 6" barrel that Ralph created such a fuss over on a forum post, I suppose he was "due" this one.
Hey, if I couldn't get it or missed the deal, I'm truly happy that Ralph has it. We share the same passions on the single shot and some Model 3 variations. It could not have found a better home than with Ralph, EXCEPT, if it were with me.
Robert E. Lee??!!!
It's true I now live where Bobby and his band of Johnny Rebs once trod, but I'm a transplant. Hell---I've always been a transplant!
Beat this if you can----and I hope you can't because NOBODY deserves to be uprooted and dragged around like a sack of oats.
It starts off in Boise, Idaho---there through first grade.
Stockton, California---second and third grade.
Winona, Minnesota---fourth and fifth grade (in two different schools--we moved again---but in town).
Fargo, North Dakota---sixth through tenth---finally, some stability---or not.
St.Louis, Missouri---eleventh and twelfth.
Still in Missouri for first two years of college----and three years of being a free spirit (which I refer to as my Bum years).
Back to college--Tennessee.
Back to St.Louis----work (and more school).
Off to Philadelphia----more work (and yet more school).
Off to Chicago---still more work.
Back to Tennessee---retired (more like dropped out).
Still in Tennessee----and staying there---except for occasional side trips to wherever the spirits move me.
The good news is I've been there and done that.
The bad news is I have no memory of anything/anybody worthwhile before North Dakota.
I'd say "Try it, you'll like it!", but I know better.
And while I am certainly fond of single shots, I collect target guns (from beginning to end----those NM #3's being the beginning--and the Model 52 series being the end (MY end)---examples of real ones like real shooters may have used in real matches. I started off collecting "anything with target sights". It took awhile---like 30+ years, but I decided I didn't have a collection, but an accumulation----which had little to no history, and told little to no story. I started over about 30 years ago----and I'm done---although every now and then----------------------
Ralph Tremaine
Vagabond Extrodinaire
What's wrong with R.E.L. ? I wish I had one of HIS guns.
You're done ? I'm holding my sides from laughter. LOL
I'm going to stick my neck out a bit (insofar as I don't know diddly about grips without looking it up----and not actually knowing exactly where to look it up), and suggest your non-medallion grips are the newer style----not the older.
Here's why:
3rd Model SS #4807, shipped November 3, 1915 carries medallion grips.
3rd Model SS #4826, shipped June 24, 1911 carries medallion grips.
3rd Model SS #7642, shipped February 17, 1916 carries medallion grips.
3rd model SS #9607 (yours) "shipped in 1921", carries non-medallion grips.
3rd Model SS #10617, shipped May 17, 1923 carries non-medallion grips.
3rd Model SS # 11112, shipped December 4, 1924 carries non-medallion grips.
And so------------------??????????????
Ralph Tremaine
Here's why:
3rd Model SS #4807, shipped November 3, 1915 carries medallion grips.
3rd Model SS #4826, shipped June 24, 1911 carries medallion grips.
3rd Model SS #7642, shipped February 17, 1916 carries medallion grips.
3rd model SS #9607 (yours) "shipped in 1921", carries non-medallion grips.
3rd Model SS #10617, shipped May 17, 1923 carries non-medallion grips.
3rd Model SS # 11112, shipped December 4, 1924 carries non-medallion grips.
And so------------------??????????????
Ralph Tremaine
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Back to me not knowing diddly about grips, and now throwing trends into the equation just muddies the waters more (for me at least). It's easy for us to sit and stare at what actually came to pass---and more or less when-----which is what I did---just yanked out the letters on my guns, and wrote down what they said along with what I could see sitting on the shelf.
If there are trends, I haven't paid enough attention to notice them---except when it comes to target sights---they get my motor running (And there are two different sights on these guns---never mind they look pretty much the same.). I suspect the variations/changes (and anomalies) we see looking backwards just happened---and were not the result of some master plan---except for the sights. If I were to be asked why S&W went from medallions to no medallions on these guns (and perhaps some others), my knee-jerk reply would be they probably ran out of medallions. If someone wanted to press the point---suggesting they certainly could have bought/made more medallions, I'd probably surmise the decision maker said something along these lines: Well, granted we want an identifying characteristic on our products, but we don't sell a whole bunch of these things in the first place, and all the folks need is something to hold on to---and they can hold on just as well without medallions as they can with them.
All of which is to say I don't get all that excited about the stuff we sometimes want to make a fuss about. We can use our 20/20 hindsight, and say what happened, and more or less when it happened. At that point we run out of facts, and start speculating as to the whys. Lacking any black ink written down on white paper when whatever happened, we're into the blind leading the blind.
Now----speaking of what happened when, current conventional wisdom says both the serial number (after 9548) and the shipping date (1920 and later) of your gun say it carries an "Olympic" barrel. Does it?
Ralph Tremaine
If there are trends, I haven't paid enough attention to notice them---except when it comes to target sights---they get my motor running (And there are two different sights on these guns---never mind they look pretty much the same.). I suspect the variations/changes (and anomalies) we see looking backwards just happened---and were not the result of some master plan---except for the sights. If I were to be asked why S&W went from medallions to no medallions on these guns (and perhaps some others), my knee-jerk reply would be they probably ran out of medallions. If someone wanted to press the point---suggesting they certainly could have bought/made more medallions, I'd probably surmise the decision maker said something along these lines: Well, granted we want an identifying characteristic on our products, but we don't sell a whole bunch of these things in the first place, and all the folks need is something to hold on to---and they can hold on just as well without medallions as they can with them.
All of which is to say I don't get all that excited about the stuff we sometimes want to make a fuss about. We can use our 20/20 hindsight, and say what happened, and more or less when it happened. At that point we run out of facts, and start speculating as to the whys. Lacking any black ink written down on white paper when whatever happened, we're into the blind leading the blind.
Now----speaking of what happened when, current conventional wisdom says both the serial number (after 9548) and the shipping date (1920 and later) of your gun say it carries an "Olympic" barrel. Does it?
Ralph Tremaine
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To the best of my knowledge, "pushers" were fashioned by individual shooters to suit their particular needs. As I envision those needs, they would be easy to hold onto, easy/quick to "stow" and retrieve, and difficult to drop. My knee-jerk thought is I'd have mine on a lanyard around my off wrist.
The matches (USRA) were 50 rounds at 50 yards in 60 minutes (if I recall correctly). On the one hand, that sounds like plenty of time; but the more time getting settled and aiming, and the less time loading, the better. (That's 50 yards outdoors, 20 yards indoors---best recollection.)
Bottom Line: I've never seen nor used one---also never competed in such a match. Joe Miller is no longer with us, so best guesses and opinions are likely what we're left with. (Joe was the USRA historian---and a walking encyclopedia on pretty much any and everything to do with these guns in competition.)----and a good guy to boot!!
Ralph Tremaine
The matches (USRA) were 50 rounds at 50 yards in 60 minutes (if I recall correctly). On the one hand, that sounds like plenty of time; but the more time getting settled and aiming, and the less time loading, the better. (That's 50 yards outdoors, 20 yards indoors---best recollection.)
Bottom Line: I've never seen nor used one---also never competed in such a match. Joe Miller is no longer with us, so best guesses and opinions are likely what we're left with. (Joe was the USRA historian---and a walking encyclopedia on pretty much any and everything to do with these guns in competition.)----and a good guy to boot!!
Ralph Tremaine
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SWWheelGun---------
Make some room in your PM box---my last PM to you was rejected.
RT
Make some room in your PM box---my last PM to you was rejected.
RT
ol777gunnerz
Member
Pusher & Holster
The early Olympic short chamber guns would not have been shipped with a pusher, it was after S&W received many complaints, then the chamber was lengthened. I was only able to load up to 5 times before my thumb felt like mush, from loading my short chambered 3rd model, trying to use a pusher was frustrating so I built a simple wooden mechanical pusher from items I had on hand one day. I had recently acquired a 12 inch Niedner barreled pistol so I designed it to load 10 & 12 inch single shots. The Lawrence "USRA" holster came with a H&R "USRA single shot pistol which has a self pushing "Olympic" action when you close it. The holster is model 25, with a 10 also stamped, for 10 inch pistol.
The early Olympic short chamber guns would not have been shipped with a pusher, it was after S&W received many complaints, then the chamber was lengthened. I was only able to load up to 5 times before my thumb felt like mush, from loading my short chambered 3rd model, trying to use a pusher was frustrating so I built a simple wooden mechanical pusher from items I had on hand one day. I had recently acquired a 12 inch Niedner barreled pistol so I designed it to load 10 & 12 inch single shots. The Lawrence "USRA" holster came with a H&R "USRA single shot pistol which has a self pushing "Olympic" action when you close it. The holster is model 25, with a 10 also stamped, for 10 inch pistol.
