Lady Smith From 1908

[ColtTom]

Hey Y'all,

I have the revolver below in my collection and would love to learn more about them. I've searched for a thread on them, but most of what comes up is stuff on the more modern "Lady Smith" offerings. I look forward to anything y'all can recommend . . . it sure is a nice little revolver.

Best,
Tom

 

[DCWilson]

Very nice specimen. If you do an internet search for "M-frame Ladysmith" you will get a bunch of hits that should give you quick information without a lot of the stuff about the later centerfire revolvers with a similar name. Try that phrase in the Forum archives as well.

You probably know that you should never shoot long rifle ammo in these, or any high-speed .22 ammo no matter how short the case is. Tips on safe ammo are found in the Forum archives as well.

These were made for about 20 years beginning in 1902. There were three models. Yours is a second model.

 

[kscharlie]

The .22 Hand Ejector often goes by the moniker of "Ladysmith" (one word). The newer .38 & .357 snub nose revolver was given the name "Lady Smith" (two words). If you search the S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 subforum using the single word Ladysmith, you will find numerous threads about this model.

BTW, this was posted in the wrong forum, and moderators have been informed to have it moved.

Yours is a very nice one.

 

[ColtTom]

Hey Y'all,

Thanks for the info . . . the "M Frame" and "Ladysmith" as one word should help my search a lot. I appreciate the thread move as I took a guess as to which forum to use for this post.

I do have this revolver lettered and it shipped with the pearl stocks which I thought would be the case.

Best,
Tom

 

[bk42261]

Just curious- Is the "S&W ,22 Cartridge" different from other ,22s from that era , or just one of those things not to use another Manufacturers' name?

 

[gmarshall99]

I believe it was a black powder round, smokeless powder would be very bad.

 

[steelslaver]

That is really an excellent example. Those mother of pearls look great on it. I think they are really neat little guns. I wish S&W would make a modern M frame that fired 22lr.

I have only fired mine a few times with 22 shorts. Hard to find any parts if something broke

 

[DWalt]

Smokeless .22 loads were in wide use when the LS was current, but that was before the High Velocity .22 period. The LS was designed for the .22 Long SV. .22 LR SV or HV ammunition should never be used. .22 Short SV (not HV) would be OK, but most who shoot one use .22 CBs. Personally, I would not shoot one if I had one, for fear of breaking something unrepairable. Story is, with some foundation, that Adolph Hitler owned a LS (SN 709) which he picked up sometime during WWI. Allegedly he fired it into the ceiling during the 1923 Munich Beer Hall Putsch, which started Hitler's career as Der Fuhrer. Over 50 years ago, I owned a LS, sold it long ago. As I remember there were three LS variations.

I have no personal familiarity with the LS mechanism, but I have seen it described as small and delicate, easily damaged and difficult to work on.

 

[kscharlie]

As noted above, shooting any .22 High Velocity ammo (shorts, longs or LR) has a very good chance of damaging the barrel extension. Cracks, chunks missing or the entire extension gone is not an unusual occurrence, caused by way too much pressure for these little guns. I have two of them, along with a couple boxes of CB Longs. As much as I want to shoot them, I haven't been able to bring myself to do so. Maybe someday...

 

[ColtTom]

Hey Y'all,

Thanks for the kind words and for the information — very much appreciated.

Best,
Tom