Smith and wesson double action revolver history book

The victory revolvers tapered barrel, square butt and simple finish speak to me. The book is geared to the double action revolver only. A singleaction revolver only requires the manual cocking of the hammer and light squeezing of the trigger to fire it. Model number on revolvers made post 1957, the model number is located on the inner frame, under the forcing cone of the barrel when the cylinder is open. Cooper double action percussion revolvers during the late war between the states was made in. Action single action double action only singledouble action. This was the gun smith and wesson was born to make. Wesson who shared a dream of developing a new type of firearm, one capable of being fired repeatedly without the annoyance of having to reload with loose powder, ball. Thus, the doubleaction revolver could still be manually cocked for aimed singleaction fire. There are very few other references that can nail down the actual date of manufacture. The potent model 629 offers users protection from bears and other predators. In 1968, the illinois state police adopted it and the model 39 became the first 9mm double action autoloading pistol ever used by any state law enforcement agency in the united states. It was 1857, and business partners, horace smith and daniel wesson, were about to release a handgun that would revolutionize the gun industry.

The single action version was produced in three varieties from 1876 through 1911, with total production exceeding 223,000. There victorys design hearkens to a bygone era, when gun designs were simple, straightforward and uncomplicated. History question first american made double action. Based on the model 2 doubleaction design, the revolver incorporated an internal hammer and an external grip safety on its backstrap. This fascinating book provides a detailed history of one of the most famous, and controversial, firearms manufacturers, and its products. The revolver employs an aluminum cylinder frame with an integrated barrelejector rod shroud, and the cylinder is made of pvdcoated stainless steel. Approximately 239,600 of this model were made between 1883 and 1909. Wesson who shared a dream of developing a new type of firearm, one capable of being fired repeatedly without the annoyance of having to reload with loose powder, ball, and primer. In this country, we are fortunate that we have available to us the finest doubleaction weapons made in the world. Smith and wesson proposed to the us army a six shot double action revolver with a solid frame and swing out cylinder to have a standard 5.

The system itself antedated the pepperboxes, for ethan allen made doubleaction, singleshot pistols under an earlier patent than colonel colts. But the american model became a true classic revolver after its basic mechanism evolved into the no. Dec 01, 2002 this fascinating book provides a detailed history of one of the most famous, and controversial, firearms manufacturers, and its products. A view of the rear sight, note the large slide cut. The first doubleaction revolver that the colt factory produced after sam colts death was the 1877 lightning model that fired. The 1st and 2nd models were built from 1880 to 1884. Understandably, much of the book is dedicated to revolvers. Less important updates included a change from polished blue on very early previctory. This revolver has been in continual production since that year and has been used by virtually every police agency and military force around the world. Feb 28, 2017 well after the introduction of the double action revolver, there were plenty of wellknown gunfighters still making good use of single actions. Smith and wesson entered into an exclusive license to use whites patent in the manufacture of their revolver. Model number on revolvers made post 1957, the model number is located on the inner frame, under the forcing cone of the barrel. The article originally appeared in the august 2019 issue of gun digest the magazine.

Double action 285lb pull in double the barrel is inserted into the pot metal. White was to receive royalties of 25 cents per gun produced until the expiration of his patent in 1872. Massachusetts natives horace smith and daniel baird wesson, famous. You can x out the last digit or two but this is critical in dating the gun. The first was the 1st model russian the original order design, with the russian ordnance inspector mandating a number of improvements to the design, resulting in the 2nd model russian, with a final revision to the russian design being known as the 3rd model russian. Excellent with most of the original blue and case colors. Sn 440582 massachusetts natives horace smith and daniel baird wesson, famous for their revolver designs. The smith m10 is an excellent revolver that certainly passed the test of time. Looked like the colt revolvers of the era excpet for the larger trigger guards. A letter of authenticity can help bring new insight about the age, make and model of your firearm. A stainless steel barrel insert fits inside of the. Instead of locking against a plug like the 1911, the smith 39 and 392s bushings lock in place with the end of the recoil spring guide rod. The eastwood movies made the revolver the most famous gun in modern history, with the possible exception of the glock. This target was shot at 7 yards, double action from the ready position.

Why all defensive revolvers should be double action only. The safety hammerless, which debuted in 1887, was the worlds first double action concealed hammer revolver. Frame size small j medium kl large n xlarge x governor z. Most double action revolvers may be fired in two ways. The dash 5 was in production from 1962 until late 1976. The firing pin on the hammer is sheet metal and only good for 125rds. The second way is double action, or from a hammerdown position. As good as they are, they can still be better much better. In particular, im very proud of my j frame action work it turns these. That is fine, as long the the buyer understands it up front. These revolvers were built to order, and were available in any. But, the book literally goes from disassembly to assembly and all of the shop functions inbetween.

The weapon was a nofrills design with a solid frame, sixshot capacity cylinder and doubleaction trigger system. Progress in shooting techniques was, to some degree, limited by the equipment they had to work with. The barrel assembly is tastefully sculpted with flat panels on both sides and minimal. This stainless steel magnum revolver bears the property stamp of the new york state police on the lower left side of the frame. This model, with modifications, continued in production as the model no. The combined genius of these two men and later their heirs created one of the most successful handgun manufacturers of all time. Smith and wesson 1880s 38 da pocket revolver in original box. I have seen some replacement firing pins out there. Action single action double action only single double action. Well after the introduction of the double action revolver, there were plenty of wellknown gunfighters still making good use of single actions. Since then, the company has produced countless pistols and revolvers that have become standard. There was, for lack of a better word, a prejudice by many cowboys against doubleaction revolvers.