A Niffty Old Barrel

[JB4570]

Here's 1 of 4 barrels I thought I sold years ago, just found this the other day while checking out some of the kids in the safe,,, Who says S&W wasn't involved with 1911's back in the day.

6" barrel marked Smith&Wesson
U.S.A. MTU

I have 2-.45 & 2-.38 wadcutter


Sorry for the poor camera, its old hope you can make out the script on the top.


Enjoy

 

[grif684]

Awesome! Who knew?.....

 

[JB4570]

From what I was told the AMU or years ago MTU used these for their Bullseye pistols for matches, I never seen a completed pistol in .45 but have seen a wadcutter gun in .38 it was built on a parked GI 1911, I never gave it a second thought years ago just thought these were rather unique and stored them away, a few years later I picked up a Clark Wadcutter and still enjoy it today, who knows I might have a new Smith 1911 converted with one of the .38 barrels too give the Clark a sister.

Perhaps some of the other members here might know some history on these barrels, this forum is a Wealth of good information, for now a couple of these barrels are going to be in the collection under the title of Just Plane Neat Stuff from S&W.


JB

 

[civil1977]

These barrels are covered in "US Military Match and Marksmanship Automatic Pistols" by Bill Jenkins. The Air Force was the first to use the S&W barrels in their 1911 bullseye guns but the Army Marksmanship Training Unit found out and acquired their own. The .38 barrels were based internally on the Model 52 barrel design, lengthened to 6" with external design to work with 1911s.