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.

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

Posted in my intro that I had been given my GGrandfathers S&W in .38 by his daughter, my great aunt. Mr. Jinks advised it was shipped in 1881. Took it out I think in '63, and put the better part of a box of shells through it. Gave it to my nephew on his graduation from cop school. He's now a sheriffs deputy in Illinois.

 

[992B]

I foolishly shot my Number 1-Second Model many years ago with low velocity .22 shorts. No damage done to a beautiful old Smith but won't chance it again.
Gary

 

[bmcgilvray]

Great replies here. I really wasn't expecting much of a response, especially with shooting the tip ups. I'm like CXM and others and would likely have to try it out once.

The Ladysmith would be another interesting model to try.

 

[deadin]

I used to be one of the "I wouldn't own anything I haven't or won't shoot" crowd.
A number of years ago I came to realize that they all work pretty much the same and make similar noises, so why take a chance on putting more wear and tear on something old when I have perfectly good modern guns to shoot? (Besides, I stand a much better chance of hitting what I'm aiming at with one of my more modern guns.

)

 

[reg55]

Alk8944
SN on my .44 DA 1st is 17862 shipped to M. Arms Co. St. Louis, Missouri. It was started out as a blue gun but was nickled sometime long ago and has seen a lot of hard use.

Randy

 

[stanws6]

I fired one cylinder of those low velocity .22's through my Model 1 2'nd issue. I only hit a can one time at ten feet. No damage, but no more.Also one cyliner through my Model 2 Army.A little better accuracy, but not much. That one is retired too.

 

[Guest]

I've fired my Single Shot 3rd Model Perfected(s) many times and will likely continue to do so. Too much fun not to.

 

[cxm]

I will hve to check the s/n when I unpack it... I though there were several issues of the 1 1/2...

Will check... thanks for pointing that out...

Century Arms had some .32 RF ammo some years ago...somewhat pricey, but I bought a small quantity... never know when you might need it...

Chuck

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?

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!!

 

[Mule88]

Ive shot my DA .44 Russian made in the 1800's with a cylinder full of light loads just to say Ive shot it.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I've shot my Wesson percussion target pistol in .36 caliber...

It supposedly dates to the 1840's or 1850's...
When Daniel was still apprenticing to to brother.

Does that count?