The Oldest Smith & Wesson You've Ever Fired

[bmcgilvray]

What sort of 19th Century Smith & Wesson guns have you fired in your lifetime?

I'm really curious to know if a Forum member has ever fired one of the early tip-up rim fire revolvers.

Anyone actually touched off one of the early Smith & Wesson magazine pistols or rifle?


I've only shot a common 1882 vintage .38 DA revolver.

 

[bmcgilvray]

What sort of 19th Century Smith & Wesson guns have you fired in your lifetime?

I'm really curious to know if a Forum member has ever fired one of the early tip-up rim fire revolvers.

Anyone actually touched off one of the early Smith & Wesson magazine pistols or rifle?


I've only shot a common 1882 vintage .38 DA revolver.

 

[deadin]

Back in my foolish days, a No.1 2nd Model, a 1st Model Schofield and a Revolving Rifle.

 

[bmcgilvray]

OK Dean, you answered in spades! I'm impressed.

 

[HKSmith]

I occasionally fire my Baby Russian topbreak - it was shipped in 1877. I use very light smokeless powder handloads with a soft lead bullet and get good results at 50 feet in spite of the crude sights and spur trigger. I've never had a misfire with about 300 rounds through the gun. Combined age of gun and shooter is 197 years!

 

[Raider]

An old Safety Hammerless made in 1902.

 

[JayCeeNC]

1909 Triple Lock in .44Spl.

 

[cxm]

Model 1 1/2 made in 1873... .32 rim fire...fired it five times... took hours to clean the BP residue out of it... never again...

FWIW

Chuck

 

[delta-419]

Breaktop .32 S&W no.1 1/2 1876, S&W 44-40 Frontier 1886 (1st year), Breaktop .38 S&W No.1 1/2 1880s and others.

 

[feralmerril]

Also my triplelock, one time I shot it off the bench with 3 or 4 other .44s and it outshot them all! I have shot other guns a quite a bit older than the triplelock.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

M1917 made in 1918.

 

[depicts]

CXM, the model 1 1/2 was only made from 1865 to about late 1868. What's the serial number on yours?

Mine is 1308, made in 1865, and if you told me where I could find some 32 rimfire for it... that would be the oldest one I ever fired too!!

 

[depicts]

Originally posted by depicts:
CXM, the model 1 1/2 was only made from 1865 to about late 1868. What's the serial number on yours? (Correction: Model 1 1/2 First was made 65-68, you may have a transition or 2d, sorry)

Mine is 1308, made in 1865, and if you told me where I could find some 32 rimfire for it... that would be the oldest one I ever fired too!!

 

[reg55]

My .44 Double Action 1st Model with BP handloads, shipped Sept. 1887. Fun to shoot a lot of work to clean!

 

[deadin]

the model 1 1/2 was only made from 1865 to about late 1868.

You're talking about the Model 1 1/2 Old Model.
I have a 1 1/2 New Model that was shipped in 1870. They were made up until 1875.

There's also a Mod 1 1/2 Centerfire aka .32 Single Action, but it's a topbreak.

 

[deadin]

I've got a 44/40 Frontier DA that I've been meaning to shoot.(with BP)
However there is a 1st Model DA in 44 Russian in about 40% condition (nickle mostly gone) being auctioned on GB right now. It's at $1,575.00 with around 2 hours to go. I'm having second thoughts about shooting mine if they worth that much in just "shooter" grade.

 

[pace40]

Shot this about 4 weeks back. Its so accurate, I can hit a 11" x 14" paper target every time at 3 yards.

 

[Smith&Winchester]

Hmmm, that would be my first edition Lady Smith dating from 1903. It shot very well with modern 22 shorts. When I called Mr. Jinks about getting it lettered, the first words out of his mouth were...." DON'T SHOOT IT...we can't replace any parts if anything breaks~ " I laughed and told him I already shot it~~~ I have a nice target with a nice seven shot group on it as a reminder. ( I know it doesn't count, but I've fired off pulled cases in my 1868 First Model Third edition ...living so dangerously! hahahaha!! )

 

[epidoc]

A commercial model Scofield - I put six rounds of black powder through it. It was about 10 year ago and I don't think I would do it again.

 

[Alk8944]

Originally posted by reg55:
My .44 Double Action 1st Model with BP handloads, shipped Sept. 1887. Fun to shoot a lot of work to clean!

What is your SN? I've got 209x that hasn't been lettered but I have estimated was about 1888.

I used to shoot it quite a bit, but since S&W re-finished it in 1975 and screwed up the double-action I have only shot it once as I recall. Someday I'll post some photos.