3rd Model Single Shot Perfected Target Pistol - New to me

[rct269]

"Self pushing when you close it" would seem to make the most sense in real life. The only real life I've been exposed to with these guns is a test I did comparing the accuracy----early Olympic vs. later Olympic vs. standard---50 rounds each at 25 yards. The Olympics (early and late) won hands down. That test was done over ten years ago, and I don't remember how I was loading. I know I wasn't using a pusher, and I know my thumb didn't turn to mush; so it figures I was "self pushing when you close it".

What I do remember was being taken to task by Joe Miller, who cautioned against such practice---noting failures to fire would/could result----and if not FTF, then "inconsistent ignition" would adversely effect accuracy. Given Joe had likely forgotten more than I know about such things, I was in no position to argue---so I didn't. That said, I can tell you all 50 rounds from each Olympic Model fired first try, and landed in the X ring.

Joe, and all others who subscribe to not pushing by closing have an undeniable point---from a technical point of view---and given the results of FTF's and "inconsistent ignition" in a real life match, you can't quarrel with them---at least not effectively.

It is my personal philosophy to avoid fixing things that aren't broken---so IF I was shooting these things on a regular and frequent basis, and IF poor results would adversely effect my well being, then you can bet I'd be using a pusher. Otherwise----------------------

Ralph Tremaine

 

[iPac]

There is one of these called a "3rd model" on my local Armslist priced at $900. The condition looks excellent as do the stocks, so I suspect this is just an Armslist scam rather than a real ad.

I really like the gun pictured and the ones shown in this thread.

 

[SDH]

My 3rd Model non-Olympic, #9843 shipped October 1921. I did a complete restoration about 1993 (as I remember) including hand polishing, charcoal bluing and upgraded with gold inlaid barrel lettering, nitre blued screws and custom English walnut target grips and fine-line checkered (32lpi).
Michael Dubber did the gold inlay and Steve Moeller the charcoal bluing, I did all the hand polishing and made and checkered the grips.

 

[rct269]

"MAYBE YES, MAYBE NO----ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE."

Wow, looks like an excellent restoration, SDH! Beautiful.

However, this is what intrigues me: is the non-Olympic chambered barrel original (including serial number) to the gun?

Because as per a theory discussed here, by that time all remaining Perfected Single Shots were thought to be shipped with Olympic chambers.

Mine was also shipped in June 1921 and is #9607, with Olympic. Yours shipped in October 1921 and is #9843, not Olympic. If indeed yours has the original barrel, then the theory does not stand.

Here:

The S&W Perfected Target Pistol explained...



Ralph, you may want to update your database with this one

My data base pales to insignificance beside the information available to Jinks. My information comes from polls here---on the forum. My first asked about any Olympic models shipped prior to 1920. There were a few. The second asked about Olympics with serial numbers below 9548. Again, there were a few. Now those few are interesting at best, because the total number of responses in both polls were also comparatively few----rendering any conclusions "iffy" at best.

All this before/after #9548 and 1920 business started with a letter Roy stumbled upon---an interoffice memo type thing from/in the Engineering Department. It was from/to individuals who clearly were familiar with the topic----but so much Greek to anyone not familiar with the topic-----like Roy or anybody else who wasn't there with hands on at the time---also known as the Historian's Curse. Roy's initial interpretation (as I recall it) was that there would be no more Olympic Models AFTER #9548/1920. Then after more poking around and head scratching he decided it meant the exact opposite---and that AFTER #9548/1920 ALL 3rd Models would carry Olympic barrels. My research (such as it was) supported this latter conclusion-----not counting the facts that there were some Olympic 3rd Models before the magic numbers----AND there are also some 1st/2nd Model with Olympic barrels (Roy mentioning he had same in his collection.). I didn't have enough sense to ask if those barrels were numbered to the particular guns---nor whether they were S&W barrels---unmolested by Pope and/or other barrel makers of the time. That said, it seems like he would have said if they were. As an aside, it is my understanding most barrels (liners) from these several "barrel makers" were short throat barrels----so this "Olympic" barrel business didn't start at S&W----just the name.

The last comment Roy made went like this----EXACTLY like this: "We need a lot more data to be sure."

The end---for all practical purposes.

Ralph Tremaine