old ladysmith?

[martineta]

Hello group. My name is Kenneth and I am a new member from VA. I have been a S&W fanatic since my early 20's. I love revolvers and don't even own a semi-auto.

I have two old M&P model 38's. retired Police guns. Also a sweet 357 highway patrolman purchased in 1978.

I have a new favorite. My mother gave me her Grandmother's Ladysmith? I'm 58 and my great-grandmother died before I was born. I am dieing to know when the revolver was made. On the barrel is 22 S&W CTG and the following dates Oct 24 1899 - Aug 14 1900
Oct 8 1901. I found the number 10869 on the frame when I opened the cylinder.

The revolver is double action and works perfectly in double action or single action mode. Anybody know anything about these early ladysmiths?

 

[gjamison]

need to post pictures!!!!!!!!!!

love to see it...

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to the forum. The .22 Ladysmiths are some of the most collectible S&W revolvers of about a century ago. The company made just over 26000 of them in three different models over nearly 20 years. Regrettably, thoughtless treatment in later years by people who shot long rifle ammo or even high-speed long rifle ammo in their guns destroyed many of them. The breech end of the barrel is particularly prone to cracking or even fracturing. The company finally retired the tiny M-frame .22s and moved their chamberings in that caliber up to the slightly larger I-frame in 1911 and then to the even larger mid-size K-frame in 1931.

With that serial number, your grandmother's gun is a Second Model Ladysmith that probably shipped in 1907 or maybe a little later.

If you search the forum for the words "Ladysmith" or "M frame," you will get a lot of hits. Many have pictures. The name LadySmith has also been used in recent decades to market a line of mid-size guns in .38/.357 caliber, but you will recognize those at a glance and realize you are looking for something else.

Basics: Ladysmith first model: serial numbers 1-4575; produced 1903-1906; characterized by a dome-shaped cylinder release on the left side of the frame.

Ladysmith second model: serial numbers 4576-13950; produced 1906-1910; characterized by a pull-to-release arrangement that allowed the cylinder to swing out after the knob under the barrel was pulled forward.

Ladysmith third model: serial numbers 13951-26154; produced 1910-1919; characterized by a re-engineered internal trigger return system; also had square butt, as opposed to rounded butts of models one and two.

Barrels came in 3" and 3.5" lengths for the first two models. The third model was also offered in a six-inch barrel. Some of these long-barrel Ladysmiths had adjustable sights and are considered "target" models.

Please take some pictures and post them. There is a thread on the Office section of the forum that explains options for posting photos.

 

[martineta]

Thanks David!

I am heading out the door to go fishing right now and will post pictures when I return. From your description of how to open the cylinder , I feel the old gal is a second run for sure. A gunsmith buddy told me a couple to years ago when my mom gave me the pistol to use 22 longs in it. I did one better and have only shot it with 22 long cb's. I have carried it in my pocket for 2 hunting seasons and used it to shoot a couple of deer in the ear that were not yet dead rather than shoot them again with my 7x57 Ruger No.1.

 

[Hondo44]

Wow, a Ladysmith Coups de gras gun, now that's classy!

 

[martineta]

OK, Here are some pictures.

 

[Hondo44]

That's a great little pocket gun. A little low on finish but high on family history, very cool. Do those extra large grips help with the recoil?

Here's what original stocks looked like except round butt on your model.

 

[DCWilson]

Those stocks look like they were custom made. As Jim points out, they are not the standard second model factory stocks.

There was a recent thread about extension stocks (stocks that drop below the bottom of the grip frame and cover the backstrap) on Ladysmiths. There was some speculation that such oversize stocks might have been available from S&W at the time of purchase, but they are not mentioned in the catalogs.

Here's a pic of a second model Ladysmith with original hard rubber stocks on it. The cartridge is one that could be fired from the other gun in Jim's photo.

 

[martineta]

recoil no issue

Since I have only been shooting only 22 Long CB's, recoil has never been noticed. This past winter I took her to the indoor pistol range at the Rivannah River Shooting club outside Charlottesville VA. Lets just say, accuracy wasn't that grand. I also took one of my old S&W pre Mod. 10 M&P 38 specials with 4 inch barrel and that one shot extremely well at 10, 15, and 20 yards using light reloads. Trailboss Powder is fluffy and fills cases nicely. I have been using it for loading .308 Win cartridges subsonic for use with a suppressor. Its perfect for reduced loading pistol cartridges. Takes the bite right out of recoil where one is doing lots of practice shooting.

Lastly,,,, Is there a place where the old 22 S&W cartridges can be purchased. Gun shows where there are antique cartridge dealers?

 

[Hondo44]

Yes they are the easiest to find on-line and at gun shows. Did you want them to shoot or just for display? The gun was designed to shoot 22 Longs which are still very available as well as 22 shorts but higher pressure than the old rounds. I'd stick to the 22 CBs. I wouldn't shoot any old ammo in it because you may have a 'squib' round and stick a bullet in the barrel.

 

[martineta]

Thanks Jim, Good advice. I like to shoot my toys so 22 long CB's shall continue to be my ammo. The CB's have plenty of juice to finish a deer which now that I shot it at the range, will be the only shooting I will do with the revolver. My 18 year old son wants it bad and I sure don't want to ruin it before he gets it.

 

[Cooter Brown]

Wow, a Ladysmith Coups de gras gun, now that's classy!

Yes sir! A grail gun for many collectors.

Make sure he reads this thread before he gets it--I was 18 once myself...