Top-Break .22

[ma deuce]

Owner of a LGS was showing me an old S&W he just got in. He's trying to figure out what it is and how to price it. It's a top-break 6-shot .22 revolver with adjustable sights and an 8 1/2 barrel. It had a 4-digit serial number beginning with "2". There was a very long hammer-mounted firing pin like a woodpecker's beak. We were looking through the Blue Book but couldn't find anything just like it. What does he have? It was in exceptional condition for a gun that must be over 100 years old, locked up tight with no end-shake, and timing seemed to be correct.

 

[murphydog]

S & W never produced a top-break .22 revolver, or (unless it was special ordered) any 8 1/2" barreled guns in that era. Photos, please?

 

[deadin]

Possibly a sleeved conversion?? Need pictures.

 

[glowe]

. . . It's a top-break 6-shot .22 revolver with adjustable sights and an 8 1/2 barrel . . . There was a very long hammer-mounted firing pin like a woodpecker's beak . . .

S&W did make a single shot pistol that was a top break, but the barrel length was 6", 8", and 10". What is interesting is your explanation of the hammer. 22s ususlly use a firing pin shaped to contact the rim of the cartridge and there were no S&Ws with a very long firing pin. Could it be a foreign copy? As already stated, pictures would help. Also of assistance are the details of all markings on the frame and barrel as well as the stocks? If you can provide more details, someone should be able to help.

 

[ma deuce]

I took some pics on my steam-driven cell phone. I'll see tomorrow if my son can help me download them. I tried to get a good pic of the barrel rib, which is where all the patent dates were. It looks like a Schofield, but I know those weren't made in .22. There was definitely the S&W rollmark on the sideplate. And it didn't seem cheaply made in any way; the quality of the machining, the knurling on the barrel latch and rear sight assembly was sharp and exact.

 

[murphydog]

Forgot to ask - single or double action, small or large frame?

 

[rct269]

Possibly a sleeved conversion?? Need pictures.

--------More than possibly----- I have seen NM#3's converted/sleeved to .22 caliber. That said, the 8 1/2" barrel remains a puzzle.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Jim Watson]

S&W didn't make a topbreak .22 revolver... but they should have.
I guess the Hand Ejectors came along before they took the caliber seriously.

 

[HKSmith]

S&W didn't make a topbreak .22 revolver... but they should have.
I guess the Hand Ejectors came along before they took the caliber seriously.

Although they never made a .22 rimfire top-break, they certainly took the caliber seriously. Their first product as S&W was the tip-up revolver, chambered in what would become the .22 Short cartridge, originally designed by (I believe) Horace Smith.

 

[Jim Watson]

I know about the tip-up .22 shorts and .32 rimfires but they are a very limited design that S&W got away from as better designs came along. It was about 20 years before they tried again.

 

[Speedo2]

Perhaps an H&R "Expert"?

Top gun in the above photo is an "Expert"; other H&R's are the "Special" and "Premier"; all 6-shot 22 top breaks; about the only 22 top-breaks that I've run into. I would suggest that the OP verify that side plate logo. -S2

 

[Jim Watson]

Iver Johnson made top break .22s, too.
I don't know if there was an 8.5", though.

 

[opoefc]

Post those pictures and you will have an answer shortly. Ed.