HM Pope 22 First Model Single Shot

[Boulder350]

I recently acquired this 22 First Model Single Shot with barrel marked HM Pope. The serial number is in the 18,000 range and was sent back to the factory at one point because there is a star next to the serial number. The barrel has been relined so it may be in 22 short now. It has a 3rd model barrel machined fancy flat as Ralph calls it. The screw that is on the back of the trigger guard is missing. Does anyone know what size screw it takes?

Is there any literature out there on the Pope Single Shots I can read?

Will defiantly send in for a letter on this one once I receive it.

 

[ol777gunnerz]

info

Single shot barrels done by Harry Pope are all relined, with his own left hand twist rifling & have an Olympic Chamber. One of mine actually was 22 short. Insert a 22 lr into the chamber, then see if you can force into the chamber with your thumb. If not, tryna 22 long, then a 22 short. The 22 short barrels were done for the indoor shooting matches which had become popular circa 1909. There should be a Pope serial number on the bottom of the barrel chamber. Pope was also known for putting trigger stops on the back of the trigger guards, both mine had them.

 

[Boulder350]

Thanks for the info ol777gunnerz. Didn't realize he made barrels in 22 lr too. It looks like there is a serial number on the bottom of the barrel but can't read it.

So did Smith and Wesson start installing the Olympic chamber on their single shots first or did Pope do it first?

 

[glowe]

Here is a 1899 Pope Catalog and a 1940 article about the man. He concentrated on rifle barrels, but his work did include pistols and revolvers. Pope Catalog 1899 Photo Gallery by halp at pbase.com

I have a 8" 38 Military Target with a Pope barrel from 1908 with left-hand twist and the narrow lands. It is numbered 688. Well used, buts still capable of shooting bullseye groups at 25 yards from a bench rest.

 

[Boulder350]

Thanks for sharing Gary, interesting read. Good looking military target too.

 

[Marlin57M]

Thanks for sharing Gary, interesting read. Good looking military target too.

Yes, good article. Thanks for sharing

 

[rct269]

MY-MY-MY!!!----------the best of the best!!!

I kept my eye out for 60+ years--for all the good it did me!

The 3rd Model barrel makes a lot of sense, if only for the screw adjustable windage sight----first ever.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[ol777gunnerz]

info

Thanks for the info ol777gunnerz. Didn't realize he made barrels in 22 lr too. It looks like there is a serial number on the bottom of the barrel but can't read it.

So did Smith and Wesson start installing the Olympic chamber on their single shots first or did Pope do it first?

I believe Pope did it first, as he was the innovator-inventor who never patented anything he did. The R H Sayre 1st model of 1891 was sent to Pope in 1908 for a 22 short reline, Olympic chamber, trigger stop & knurled trigger. Sayre used it in indoor meets only after that. S&W started the Olympic Chambers in 1909. A O Niedner followed soon after on single shots done by his shop.

 

[rct269]

SWAG-----------It stands to some sort of reason the screw in the back of the trigger guard (trigger stop) was added after the pistol left Springfield. That being the case, it also stands to pretty much any sort of reason the screw is of regular, everyday size---rather than a S&W do it yourself size. That being the case (again), I'd be off to a "Gun Screw" ACE Hardware store, and grab up a couple of each size close to whatever the diameter of the trigger stop screw hole is.

Those ACE stores that stock "gun screws" have them from 0 on up to 8(??)---and at least seems like they have them in two different thread pitch sizes (TPI) for each size (diameter).

Good Hunting!!

Ralph Tremaine

A belated after thought (also a SWAG): If (IF) this screw is positioned (on the gun) such that a flat blade screwdriver is/can be used to adjust it, then "ACE IS THE PLACE!" If, on the other hand, it's obvious an Allen Wrench is required (because of space considerations), then pretty much any hardware merchant is going to have it---and it will very likely be ready to install without any whittling/modification whatsoever---as in a "set screw" of the proper (or close enough) length.

 

[glowe]

I agree with Ralph that is may be an add-on that some shooter did to help his score. I have another 38 Military Target that has the same alteration expertly done by somebody. .085" seems to be the diameter of the screw threads. I have to say that the trigger pull is amazing. The alteration is meant to offer zero carry-through of the trigger after the hammer drops. The hammer on this target revolver still drops exactly when the trigger hits the stop screw after almost 120 years.

 

[Boulder350]

Thanks for the tip Ralph, will stop by Ace to check out their screw selection.

The gun arrived a few days ago. It appears to be a transitional model with no machining for a cylinder hand or place for a cylinder pin. It has a 5 digit serial number so its definitely a first model.

 

[glowe]

No recoil shield., but those grooves certainly look factory. I think the 1st Model had only hard rubber target stocks as well.

If it was sent back to the factory in the 1920s, perhaps the Service Department took off the recoil shield and put in the grooves. Those walnut stocks are 1920s era as well. Trigger is single action like my Model 1891.

 

[ol777gunnerz]

Pope

H M Pope added a trigger stop to the single shots & revolvers that he worked on.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

That hammer is like the one in the 32 single action top break, same design anyway. Its worth checking on.