Any great S&W long guns prior to 1960?

[bushmaster1313]

When I think great long guns prior to 1960 I think, Winchester, Ithaca, Savage and Remington.

Any great vintage S&W long guns out there?
If not, why not?

 

[Club Gun Fan]

The Revolving Rifle and the Wesson shotgun.

 

[Skeetr57]

I wouldn't call either the revolving rifle or the Wesson shotgun great guns, unless you are talking from a collector standpoint. Both were low production failures and probably lost S&W and Wesson Arms a lot of money.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I wouldn't call either the revolving rifle or the Wesson shotgun great guns, unless you are talking from a collector standpoint. Both were low production failures and probably lost S&W and Wesson Arms a lot of money.

Look again. The Wesson shotgun was a high grade gun for it's day, which is one reason it's production numbers were low. The Revolving Rifle was a success, again, production was low because of cost. The Winchester was a design of Smith & Wesson's so in a way they made a great rifle.

 

[Skeetr57]

The Wesson shotgun sold less than 250 copies, and most of them I have seen don't even have the makers name on them. The design was poor from a strength standpoint compared to contemporary shotguns, and the only thing it had going for it was the lockwork, which was taken pretty much from the S&W revolvers. The basic toggle action of the early Winchester rifles was pretty much the same as the S&W/Volcanic design, but required the work of B. Tyler Henry on a cartridge to make it successful, and then complete redesign by John M Browning to make it really successful.

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Tom
Your points are well taken. But, if I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.

 

[Mrnurse]

The Smith & Wesson rifles, made by Husqvarna late 50"s to late 80's