What is this in the 1902-1905 taxonomy?

[smoothshooter]

What is taxonomy?
Is there another more common word that could have been used?

 

[Muley Gil]

What is taxonomy?
Is there another more common word that could have been used?

Taxonomy is a practice and science concerned with classification or categorization.

So sayth wikipedia.

 

[rct269]

What is taxonomy?
Is there another more common word that could have been used?

Most certainly, and if not a word, then a brief phrase.

That said, it strikes me there's not a whole lot of more common folks who frequent this hive ------and what fun or interest would it be if they did?

Ralph Tremaine

 

[SouthNarc]

Well Craig, I am very sorry that you have to even look at those grips for even one second more! Since I hate that you have to do that, I would be more than willing to take those junkers off your hands for an extremely generous $100!

To me , those are SPECTACULAR!
Larry

Larry I appreciate you looking out for me sir!

 

[SouthNarc]

Most certainly, and if not a word, then a brief phrase.

That said, it strikes me there's not a whole lot of more common folks who frequent this hive ------and what fun or interest would it be if they did?

Ralph Tremaine

Taxonomy is a word that tastes good to say.

 

[DCWilson]

Just to be precise about the engineering changes in the very first "Model of 1905" revolvers, the modern trigger return mechanism (coil spring inside traveling block) did not appear until the 1905 First Change revolvers in 1906 with serial number 73250 marking the transition. But the fifth screw in front of the trigger guard, absent in the 1902 models, did appear after serial number 62450 with the earliest 1905s.

This thread about a round butt M&P with the engineering specs of the earliest 1905 serial numbers may help clear up (or at least illustrate) the fuzzy relationship between grip shape, engineering changes, and inconsistent model designations.

An early five-screw .38 Military & Police

The forum archives contain many other discussions of the 1902/1905 matter.

 

[Retired W4]

Taxonomy is a word that tastes good to say.

It's always good to add a word to the old vocabulary, even though I'll probably never use it.

BTW, that thing looks pretty good for being well over a hundred years old.

 

[JSR III]

The shiny muzzle crown has been explained above. Prior to reading the whole thread I was going to offer a situation that happened to me. I was looking at one of my guns recently and noticed a fine coating of light rust on the muzzle crown. I coated it with oil and proceeded to remove the light rust with a brass brush. The rust went away but the crown now has a bit of a shine.

I was going to suggest that perhaps this had happened to your gun but apparently it was done by the factory. Oh well...

 

[glowe]

That word is Greek to me!

Actually, taxonomy (from Ancient Greek τάξις (taxis) 'arrangement', and -νομία 'method') is the scientific study of naming, defining (circumscribing) and classifying groups/segments based on shared and contrasting characteristics.

 

[SouthNarc]

That word is Greek to me!

Actually, taxonomy (from Ancient Greek τάξις (taxis) 'arrangement', and -νομία 'method') is the scientific study of naming, defining (circumscribing) and classifying groups/segments based on shared and contrasting characteristics.

Gary you're an erudite fellow!

 

[SouthNarc]

It's always good to add a word to the old vocabulary, even though I'll probably never use it.

BTW, that thing looks pretty good for being well over a hundred years old.

You know if the ship date is 1904 that would put her at a grand 120 years old. Pretty stunning when you think of it?

Thank you sir. She does do nice glamour shots.

 

[SouthNarc]

There is an elegance that the pre-war revolvers have that is evocative of fine men's wear and accessories of the same era. It's quite captivating.

 

[Sevens]

There is an elegance that the pre-war revolvers have that is evocative of fine men's wear and accessories of the same era. It's quite captivating.

I'm not sure this fits directly, but your post right here reminded me of something my Grandfather said to me. He was born in 1900 and I graduated high school in June of 1990 and as a gift, he presented to me the only handgun he had owned his entire life.

Around here we would call it a Hand Ejector, Military & Police Model of 1905, Fourth Change. (some would disagree but it's what Mr. Jinks wrote in my letter.) The letter also told me that it was shipped in late May, 1921 (SN 3572xx) and my then 90-year Grandfather's memory said that he had purchased it in 1923 and he believed that he bought it in a town about 75 miles away from where S&W shipped it. As he had 90 years under his belt and no other handguns beyond this, I asked him why he bought it.

He said, "well, in those days... a man owned a gun, you know?"

And that was the reason he bought it.

 

[JSR III]

When I first read the word "taxonomy" I assumed it was Italian and used in normal speech to describe different taxable items.

Like taxonomy house, taxonomy car, taxonomy groceries etc......

 

[SouthNarc]

When I first read the word "taxonomy" I assumed it was Italian and used in normal speech to describe different taxable items.

Like taxonomy house, taxonomy car, taxonomy groceries etc......

I think that would be taxonomia.

Yeah I just made that up.

 

[smoothshooter]

Most certainly, and if not a word, then a brief phrase.

That said, it strikes me there's not a whole lot of more common folks who frequent this hive ------and what fun or interest would it be if they did?

Ralph Tremaine

I suspect not more than 1 in 50 people reading this forum have ever even heard of the word " taxonomy ".
It's bad practice to talk over the heads of most of your audience.

 

[SouthNarc]

I suspect not more than 1 in 50 people reading this forum have ever even heard of the word " taxonomy ".
It's bad practice to talk over the heads of most of your audience.

I'm not sure where your "1 out of 50" number comes from.

As for "bad practice" well....I actually teach...specifically firearms and tactics for a living. And I'm quite successful. So I'll keep communicating in ways that I think are effective and you can choose to ignore writing on the internet that you feel is over your head.

 

[DARE]

Here is my oldest Hand Ejector. .38 M&P 1st Model Target, Model of 1899. Shipped March 1900.
Not near as purdy as SouthNarc gun.
Have ordered a letter.

 

[SouthNarc]

Here is my oldest Hand Ejector. .38 M&P 1st Model Target, Model of 1899. Shipped March 1900.
Not near as purdy as SouthNarc gun.
Have ordered a letter.

Man I really love the 1899s and am actively hunting one!

 

[2152hq]

S&W bluing that early would have been by the Charcoal Blue method.
That was done by placing the polished parts right in and then coved with burning charcoal.
Plain charcoal burns all by itself at 830/850F ,,just the right temp to impart the deep blue/black color to steel.
Any hotter and the parts will turn grey color.
900F is about where steel starts to glow red. Getting them that hot ruins any attempt at a blue/black and the parts need to be stripped, re-polished and re-done.

The process was done by all the mfg'rs here and in Europe.
It's simple but labor intensive. Most factories used a lot of child labor for much of it (consider the era).
The parts were usually handled by mearly hanging each on a wire or a hook. The part needed only to be able to be removed quickly and turned/repositioned in the embers and covered again as the process proceded.
Sometimes a stubborn coloring area or part needed to be rubbed or burnished down during the process with such things like a fine abrasive as Rottenstone & Oil (Whale oil) and go back into the coals.
The part was simply pulled, layed down on a wood surface and the deed done and back into the fire.
The wire or hanger may have scratched the crown as the bbl swiveled around on it during the operation and I suspect there was no real attempt to make sure the muzzle was a perfect blued finish with a curved hook wire or rod protruding.
A quick bright polish to the muzzle would take care of that detail and add a nice look as well.


When the color was correct, the parts were again rubbed/burnished down. Sometimes with the above method. Some others simply used oakum(sp?) & oil or burlap & oil.
Depends on the factory and who was doing the work.

The color is nearly the same as the later American Gas Furnace Blue system using Carbona Oil.
But there is a slight difference and side by side you can generally see it if the examples are pristine.
Of course the metal polish under the bluing has much to say about the final look.

The Amercian Gas Furnace system came into play and elliminated all the dangerous hand labor around the open hearth pits and sped up production.
Colt switched to AmerGas Furnace from Charcoal Blueing just after the start of 1911 Pistol production. The very first 1911's were Charcoal Blued.
I'm not sure when S&W switched, but likely around the same time is my guess.