What is the rarest (most scarce) S&W?

[rednichols]

Oh em gee. Smiths I had no idea about, in beautiful condition, and handsomely photographed. Picture me jealous.

I nominate -- the mythical 6" First Model Triple Lock. My letter from Roy Jinks, regarding a 6-1/2", lists the barrel length. I had the distinct understanding when I enquired about this length a year or two ago on this forum, that it has never been sighted?

 

[Eddie Southgate]

One I got the money to pay for .

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

Model 29 m&p. Only 3 made if I recall correctly

 

[BigBill]

I'm happy for the few I have. In that world famous smith & Wesson nickel finish that is.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

I saw Target Model of 1899 in .32-20 a few days ago. It sold online for about $1100 with a history letter. It had after market MOP stocks. That's a rare bird......

 

[deadin]

One-offs aside and only considering actual production guns.......

Seeing as how this thread doesn't seem to be sticking to Hand Ejectors (as it should according to the title of the thread...) might I offer the .32 Double Action 1st Model (Top-Break). There were only 30 made before it was found that there was a serious weakness in the design. I'm sure that some already "self-destructed" so there are fewer survivors. I know where there is one and recently saw where two more were up for sale. (I think the asking price was well into 5 figures for the pair. )

 

[JSR III]

Some from my collection that I consider very interesting or unique. Not necessarily rare based on production numbers alone:

Model 1917 Army club gun given be S&W to the Army inspector overseeing their production.

460 XVR prototype

.22/32 HFT prototype

Nickle model 59 given to F.H. Miller by his fellow employees upon retiring from S&W and so inscribed.

1951 USRA trophy gun awarded by the Springfield Revolver Club

 

[29-1]

Rare Nickel Model 53

I wondered where that old gal wound up. Rare is an understatement.

 

[Dave.357]

It seems to be what ever I am looking for right now it's a model 51 I am to late or they are in poor shap looking for 90 percent or better not a unfired safe queen

 

[ParadiseRoad]

I wondered where that old gal wound up. Rare is an understatement.

...I don't know where she is...I just found your excellent thread on it from 10 years ago and decided it would be very appropriate included in this thread...

...thanks for the original post...it is the basis for my entire knowledge of the model 53...

 

[hibbs]

I have a 1955 Target, 5-screw gun in .45 Colt that I'm told is one of ~ 15 that were made.

Richard

 

[Wiregrassguy]

I have a 1955 Target, 5-screw gun in .45 Colt that I'm told is one of ~ 15 that were made.

Richard

How about some pictures in a new thread?

Guy

 

[model3sw]

I see that the replies do not correspond with the section of Hand Ejectors 1896 to 1961 so, I suppose, any S&W "production" model would qualify (excluding experimental models that were never produced nor distributed)

The New Model 3 "Target" in .45 S&W Schofield. While there were not many New Model 3 (standard configuration) factory shipped in .45 S&W Schofield caliber either, (Ed Cornett had written an article in one of the Journals about the .45 S&W New Model 3s) there are only 2, known and verified, New Model 3 "Target" in .45 S&W Schofield Caliber. One is shown in Neal & Jinks book and I have the other as mine is a different serial number. I have not found, nor do I know of any others during my 30+ year quest to find same.

The .38 M&P 1905/4th change with Factory Chrome finish. Currently only 3 are physically accounted for but likely more out there somewhere. It is still unknown exactly how many were produced but most current research (and letter from S&W Historical Foundation) shows the 2, 6" 1905/4th chrome finish I own were shipped in a shipment of 35 total, as 30 (6") and 5 (4"), shipped in 1960 to a dealer in NY at a bargain clearance price of appx $10 each with mid 1930s serial numbers. The actual total produced could be anywhere from these 35 to possibly 200. Odd is that very few (less than 8) have been verified to exist. Only 3 are currently known to exist, with another 5 (approximately) which I think were all 4 or 5" barrels, have been mentioned by other members that have had past ownership or who had personal knowledge of same.

Originally manufactured in an attempt to find a replacement for nickel becoming scarce in the years leading up to WWII. Several went out for testing and all failed testing so never commercially released in chrome finish but at least 35 were placed in the vault at S&W and stayed there until 1960. Odd these were not shipped out and used during WWII but possibly the several that were tested and failed had something to do with NOT releasing them. Oh, no one knows what happened to the several that failed. It seems, as best that can be ascertained, the test revolvers all had the chrome peel from the cylinder during heavy testing. No known records of what happened to the test revolvers, either.

Pre and early post-war to Model of 1950, 44 Special Target with 4" barrel. 200 or less, if I recall correctly.

Also the Model 52A in .38AMU only 87 produced.

 

[model3sw]

Special orders and one off prototypes aside............ on a short list would be some PC guns................. like the

SD-9 : Performance Center 9mm stainless steel , compact frame (6906) with 4 1/4" barrel and slide. only 179 built in 1994?

How does this compare to the first Performance Center Shorty 9 actual model number of PC5906 but is a shorty, not at all as big as the 5906 ?

 

[29-1]

Here's one of 2 known 29-1s in nickel and 4 screw variation.
Chuck

 

[BAM-BAM]

How dos this compare to the first Performance Center Shorty 9 actual model number of PC5906 but is a shorty, not at all as big as the 5906 ?

Well the frames are the same size (6906) but the SD guns had stainless steel frame vs. alloy like the Shorty guns;......... and the SD barrel/slide is 4 1/4" vs the 3 1/2" on a Shorty-9 or 6906. 5906 barrel/slide are 4".