??? Pre-War Wire Brush

[Vettepartz]

I was looking at some pictures of the S&W tools in this forum, and saw a picture of a pre-war mop with the twisted wire handle. The thread said the brush also had a twisted wire handle. I have in my 'junk box' this old brush that has the loop on the end very similar to the picture in the thread. Any chance this might be an early S&W tool?

 

[Hondo44]

An excellent chance!

I'll look for a photo.

 

[Vettepartz]

Hmmm...... I thought there would be more interest in this.

 

[blaser1234]

Twisted Wire Brush

You must remember other manufacturers of the era besides S&W, such as Colt provided twisted wire bore brushes and twisted wire mops in their boxes with both revolvers and semi-autos. Perhaps these were manufactured by outside vendors as well. Pretty difficult to know if yours S&W without comparing to verifiable examples. Perhaps some others can provide some more info.

 

[Absalom]

The problem is that these are pretty generic in concept and appearance. How many unique ways can you make a twisted-wire brush?

So absent any markings or a verified S&W example that is of identical length and appearance, it’s hard to pin down. I also think it’s possible that S&W worked with subcontractors for these non-gun parts.

 

[DWalt]

Or it could be a brush which was made for a different purpose. It seems to be too short for use in most revolver barrels. I am by no means an expert on factory accessories, but I do not remember seeing brushes of that design packed with older S&W guns.

 

[crsides]

this one came in a K22 gold box, one of the first shipped in feb 1947.


I have another that looks more like yours the was in a colt 25 auto box.

Charlie

 

[mrcvs]

I also think it’s possible that S&W worked with subcontractors for these non-gun parts.

I think it's probable that S&W worked with subcontractors...

I have no concrete proof of this, but it makes economic sense.

Stick to what you do best, produce it in quantity, reap your profits from that. Subcontract out accessories which are needed in lesser volume and have much less economic value.

 

[wheelgun610]

I think it's probable that S&W worked with subcontractors...

And I think it's likely to have been the good ol' Fuller Brush Co. They were located in Hartford, CT in the first half of the 20th Century which is not all that far from Springfield, Mass.

Mark