Need some help & thoughts on a 1878 S&W model 1 1/2

[Boulder350]

Here is a letter for for the second style strain screw where the screw is in the front of the strap in the 4000 range.

The trigger is blued too. My guess is the hammer was shortened to make it easier to carry, maybe when it was engraved or at the refinish.

 

[mmaher94087]

Bouder350, interesting letter. That changes my perspective about the location of the strain screw vs the eccentric cam mainspring tensioning.

 

[Boulder350]

Here is the picture of mine. The serial numbers of the original posters and mine are pretty close together. Looks like they did a batch or two of the exterior strain screw frames and then used up all the old cam strain screw frames. There deffinatly was a transition period.

 

[mmaher94087]

I guess there are at least 50 with the strain screw in the late 4,000 range. I have 4060 and it has the cam style.

 

[BMur]

Factory wood case

I always thought those wood cases were " factory made". At least that was the claim on this forum. This Historical letter clears that up. "Distributor ordered"! No surprise.


Murph

 

[mmaher94087]

Those wood boxes are the only boxes made by S&W. They, like the revolvers, were ordered by the distributors to resell to the public. The boxes are quite scarce and have three distinct labels with minor differences under the lid.