The idea for this thread is based on a S&WCA meeting 25 or more years ago, when Dave Damkar had a display table featuring rare pairs of S&W revolvers. (The dictionary definition of 'rare' is 'seldom seem'.) That display covered a wide range of S&W production, covering a multitude of models, and many years of production. This thread is significantly narrower, and is focused on only two models, and a very specific range of serial numbers.
The region that is being explored today is the last portion of the 1902 1st change, from serial number 58000 to 62450, in the .38 Caliber serial number series. The Model of 1902, as well as the Model of 1899, are all round butt revolvers. Serial number 58000 is the first square butt revolver produced, and the factory catalogs refer to it as the Model of 1905. It is otherwise identical to the Model of 1902 1st change. Serial 62450 is the first serial number of the introduction of the 5th frame screw and redesigned cylinder stop. (A discussion for another time is the engineering-change naming of the new Model of 1905, given it's identical Model of 1902 1st change revolver.)
The serial number range of 58000 to 62450 constitutes 4250 revolvers, with an unknown mix of round and square butts, an unknown mix of fixed vs adjustable sights, an unknown mix of four barrel lengths, and two finishes. The goal of this investigation, then is to try to put some numbers on what was made during this very brief period of time, which is some way ought to be a statement about the rarity of this small universe of revolvers.
Collector lore has it that adjustable-sighted (target) revolvers were about 10% of the production. The current round of research, done by Gary Lowe and myself, for this serial number range, does not support the conventional wisdom. It appears to be less than 1%, at most. In the context of rare, target revolvers became the first focus of this work.
In looking over the (meager) amount of data, it was noticed that two sets of revolvers had been found, that are unique. Each set contains one round-butt (1902) and one square butt (1905), with adjustable sights, and the same barrel length and finish. Each set belongs to a different collector.
The first set is a pair of 5" blue target revolvers. In this set, the 1905 has been restored by Dave Chicoine, many years ago. The first two pictures are these guns, and they belong to this writer.
The next set are 6 1/2" blue target revolvers, and they belong to Chris Taylor.
Regards, Mike Priwer
The region that is being explored today is the last portion of the 1902 1st change, from serial number 58000 to 62450, in the .38 Caliber serial number series. The Model of 1902, as well as the Model of 1899, are all round butt revolvers. Serial number 58000 is the first square butt revolver produced, and the factory catalogs refer to it as the Model of 1905. It is otherwise identical to the Model of 1902 1st change. Serial 62450 is the first serial number of the introduction of the 5th frame screw and redesigned cylinder stop. (A discussion for another time is the engineering-change naming of the new Model of 1905, given it's identical Model of 1902 1st change revolver.)
The serial number range of 58000 to 62450 constitutes 4250 revolvers, with an unknown mix of round and square butts, an unknown mix of fixed vs adjustable sights, an unknown mix of four barrel lengths, and two finishes. The goal of this investigation, then is to try to put some numbers on what was made during this very brief period of time, which is some way ought to be a statement about the rarity of this small universe of revolvers.
Collector lore has it that adjustable-sighted (target) revolvers were about 10% of the production. The current round of research, done by Gary Lowe and myself, for this serial number range, does not support the conventional wisdom. It appears to be less than 1%, at most. In the context of rare, target revolvers became the first focus of this work.
In looking over the (meager) amount of data, it was noticed that two sets of revolvers had been found, that are unique. Each set contains one round-butt (1902) and one square butt (1905), with adjustable sights, and the same barrel length and finish. Each set belongs to a different collector.
The first set is a pair of 5" blue target revolvers. In this set, the 1905 has been restored by Dave Chicoine, many years ago. The first two pictures are these guns, and they belong to this writer.
The next set are 6 1/2" blue target revolvers, and they belong to Chris Taylor.
Regards, Mike Priwer
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