Stocks of Smith & Wesson

 Smith & Wesson put out a variety of stocks and it takes a keen eye to be able to distinguish them.  I have seen amazing copies come out of Thailand and other parts of the world that are almost impossible to distinguish the fake from the originals.  Companies have done their homework when it comes to replicating the original stocks.  A really nice pair of original stocks will sell for around $100 on eBay and buy it now prices are always around $150.  You can however purchase them on Midwayusa's website that are OEM.
The best source for locating pictures for the different types of grips would be some of the Smith and Wesson Forum groups, the S&W catalogue, and collectors.  There are several different ones all over the internet and the members are filled with S&W facts and photos.
Essentially we are looking at several different types of grips on many different frames.  To know them all is a stretch and they had some rare ones that even the best historians can't identify.

Tip-Ups:
The standard tip-up are all made of rosewood. These stocks are all smooth. The first stock on the left is for the Model One first and second issues with Square Butt. Model One 3rd issue with Round Butt; Model Two Old Army Square Butt; and Model One and a Half 2nd issue, Round Butt.(Jim King, Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson)

Top Breaks: Top row left to right: Black Hard Rubber, .38 single action first model Baby Russian with S&W block logo; and red mottled hard rubber, .38 Double Action Second Model. Bottom row, Black Hard Rubber, .32 single action without  logo; Red Mottled Hard Rubber, .32 Single Action with S&W Block Logo; Black hard rubber .32 single action with intertwined S&W logo; Black Hard Rubber, Floral Pattern, .32 Double Action; and Black Hard Rubber, .32 Safety Hammer less.(Standard Catalog of S&W 2006)

S&W small and medium top break stocks. Top row left to right; Black Hard Rubber, .38 Single Action First Model Baby Russian, with S&W Block Logo; and, Red Mottled Hard Rubber, .38 Double Action Second Model.  Bottom Row, left to right; Black Hard Rubber, .32 Single Action, without S&W Logo; Red Mottled Hard Rubber, .32 Single Action, with S&W Block Logo; Black Hard Rubber, .32 Single Action, with intertwined S&W Logo; Black Hard Rubber, Floral Pattern, .32 Double Action; and Black Hard Rubber, .32 Safety Hammer less. ( Smith & Wesson Catalogue 2006)

S&W large frame top break stocks. Top Row: Red Mottled Hard Rubber, .44 Double Action, bottom row, left to right: plain walnut, Russian Round Butt; Black Hard Rubber, New Model Number Three, Round Butt; and Checkered Walnut, New Model Number Three Round Butt.

S&W Small Frame Hand Ejector Stocks. Top Row, left to right: Diamond Center Checkered Walnut, Regulation Police Extension Stocks, Pre-World War II (pre-war); and, Diamond Center Checkered Walnut, Regulation Police Extension Stocks, Post-War II

S&W K Frame Hand Ejector Stocks:  Black Hard Rubber, Round Butt used 1899-1940; diamond center checkered walnut, round butt with silver medallions, post war used 1946-1950.  Bottom row, Walnut Square butt, flattened top without medallions, used from 1904-1910; Walnut Square butt with recessed gold medallions, used from 1910-1920; Walnut Square butt round top with medallions used from 1920-1929; Walnut Square butt with silver flushed medallions used from 1929-1941.

S&W Diamond Center Checkered Target Stocks: Early Diamond Centered checkered walnut square butt without extractor relief cutout, used early 1950's; Diamond Centered checkered Goncalo Alves "Coke Bottle" Square butt, with extractor relief cut used about mid 1950's-1968. Diamond Center checkered Goncalo alves, Square butt, with extractor relief cut used about mid 1950's-1967.

S&W Checkered Target Stocks: Goncalo alves checkered target stocks with extractor relief cut, 1978, Goncalo alves checkered target stocks, with speed loader cut, 1981 and, resin impregnated laminated birch checkered target stocks with speed loader cut from the early 1990's.

S&W Plain Target Stocks, early smooth rosewood coke bottle, square butt without extractor relief cut, used early 1950's. Smooth Goncalo alves, square butt with extractor relief cut used about 1967-1980. Smooth rosewood square butt with speed loader cut without stock circle insert used about 1970's- 1990's. 

All of these photos and information that follows them comes right out of the Smith & Wesson catalog and authors are Jim Supica & Richard Nahas 3rd edition. 2006 Gun digest books Iola, WI

Smith and Wesson's Humble Beginnings

D B Wesson & wife Cynthia

     Horace Smith and Dan Wesson formed Smith & Wesson in the year 1856.  A man by the name of Rollin White held the patent that covered the bore from the front of the cylinder to the rear.  This allowed for a metal cartridge or a powder charge to be inserted from the rear.  At that time, even Rollin White had no idea where the future of the cartridge was heading.  Rumor was that he was examining a patent from Lefaucheux pinfire arms, that was imported into this country from France.  This patent was issued to White on April 3, 1855 and Horace Smith wrote to him in a letter.  "I noticed in a patent granted to you under the date of April 3, 1855 on claim-viz-extending the chambers of the rotating cylinder right through the rear end of said cylinder so as to enable the said cylinders to be charged to the rear end either by hand or by means of a sliding charger operating substantially as described-which I would like to make arrangements with you to use in the manufacture of fire-arms." This was the letter that started it all.  White responded by saying that he would be pleased if Horace called on him on his way to New York.

No. 1 serial number 5,812 in Barney Marsales collection

This is where their relationship began and it seemed to be off to a great start.  Later we would learn that White was not satisfied with the arraignment of .25 cents a pistol and in the very first year S&W sold 4 pistols granting White $1.  The initial payment made to White was $497.50 and you can see that in the very first ledger of Smith & Wesson below.
When I look at the young photo of Horace and his wife, they seem like they are full of ambition and ready to take on the world.  The photograph of Dan and Horace in the second one, shows them when they are slightly older and are more weathered if you will.

This was the very first journal kept by the company in 1856. You can see the first entry
is from Horace Smith.

Does not say when this photo was taken but you can see that they are older
when compared to the wedding photo.

This was the first ad for the No. 1 or Seven Shooter.  From a marketing standpoint
the ad looks really good. The No. 1 is big, bold, and clear.  Description is great.

Reference: Smith & Wesson revolvers, John Parsons , William Morrow & Company, NY 1957

Smith & Wesson model 58

The Smith & Wesson model 58 is a stripped down version of the model 57.  The model 58 was intended for police departments and the like and was introduced in 1964.  It has the Magna service grips and a fixed sight.  The model 58 is very similar in design when compared to the model 10.

The weight of the model 58 is 41 ounces and comes with a 4" barrel.  You could purchase the model 59 with the same blue or nickel finish as the model 57 and then Smith and Wesson discontinued those options and began to only produce these in a matte finish.  They felt that the matte finish was more practical calling this the "working mans revolver."
One of the greatest options for collectors, the model 58 is cheaper and much less popular than the other N-frame staples such as the model 27 or the 29.  There are several clubs on the Internet called, "the 58 club."  Some members have multiple 58's that they simply just collect.  A complaint from collectors is that the 57, and 58 are difficult to find ammo for and when you do find it, it's expensive.  Most save all of their brass and reload their own.  The components for the cartridge are easy to locate.  From 1964-1977 Smith and Wesson produced about 20,000 model 58's.  These are still in many peoples collections and are mostly safe queens.

Smith & Wesson Backpack Cannon .460 XVR

Not one day after I said that less than 150 people have been killed by bears in the wild, Smith and Wesson releases the Backpack Cannon.  The caliber is .460 and the revolver can hold 5 rounds.  It is equipped with a shock absorber in the rear of the handle to help the shooter with the recoil.
S&W Performance Center has released the Backpack Cannon at the largest gun show on earth in Las Vegas called "SHOT Show."  The hand cannon features high visibility sights and a 3 inch barrel.  Many who were allowed to fire this weapon at a range in Nevada this week describe the experience as "manageable" and "surprisingly comfortable to shoot."




The Backpack Cannon will also shoot .454 Casull rounds as well as .45 Long Colt Ammo.  The revolver runs around $1200.00 and I'm sure there will be a wait to purchase one of these beauties. I will follow the news releases and report back when I hear more but as of now, that's the story.   Right now they are calling it a very accurate hunting gun with a synthetic stock.
Watch the video and leave a comment below.

Smith and Wesson's Classic Ads

Smith and Wesson has had many different advertising campaigns.  Like many companies, some were more successful than others.  The intriguing part about their ads is that it allows the viewer to get a snap shot of American life throughout history.

Another fabulous part that makes these ads amazing is that they list several revolvers with their model numbers and calibers in the ads.  The cowboy ad depicts a young man running on a horse in what looks like a getaway while shooting his S&W revolver.  Another classic ad is one where a man is fighting off a bear and while this is extremely unlikely, it did sell pistols.  I promise you can't sell a pistol today advertising that you might need it to fight off a bear.  With less than a 150 bear attacks recorded since 1850, the chances of shooting a bear with your revolver is slim.  You would have a better campaign marketing to jewelry store owners but that's another story.  There is nothing sexy about that and the imagination can't run wild thinking about defending your jewelry as it can when fighting off a bear.
The ads are rich with history and we can reflect on America and where it was on the timeline of life during these periods.

Smith and Wesson Model 29

     The model 29 was made famous by Clint Eastwood in the Dirty Harry series of films that came out of Hollywood.  "Make my day" is a statement that is recognized worldwide.  The model 29 at the time was the most powerful handgun in the world. There were some black powder pistols that were more powerful but not in production at the time. This was the handgun that detective Callahan carried and made famous.  There are many variations of the model 29.  This model was made in stainless steel, nickel, and blue.  You can get a model 29 in 3",4",6", 6.5", 8 3/8" and 10 5/8".

The model 29 looks amazing in its different configurations with grips and barrel lengths. Smith and Wesson has a variety of choices and consumers have modified their own versions of the model 29 and it would be great if you shared the pictures of your model 29 here as well.
I wouldn't say that the model 29 is the best selling S&W ever made but I would say that it is the most famous.  This is the revolver that the whole world recognizes thanks to Clint Eastwood.  I can remember watching Dirty Harry as a kid and seeing the model 29 and thinking as a child that it was overkill.  Imagine that!

A quick Google search will reveal one of the most fascinating revolvers of all time.  The model 29 has a cult following and many people have them.  The general consensus is that the model 29 with a 6" barrel blued is a fairly rare item to obtain.  Not because they aren't out there, but because many people don't want to sell them.  Can you blame them?  Before the movie was released most used the handgun for hunting and some law enforcement carried it but not many.  When the film came out in 1971, they scrambled to keep them on the shelves and now most of these beauties sit in a very dark area of peoples safes, never to see the light of day again.
The model 29 had several improvements and we can look at the dash to see what S&W wanted to improve on.
29-1 was introduced in 1960 and had modifications to the ejector rod screw
29-2 dropped a spring that secured the cylinder stop
29-3 1982 dropped recessed cylinders and pinned barrels for crushed fit barrels
29-4 1988
29-5 1990
29-6 1996 standard mono grips from Hogue
29-7 1998 changes to the locking mechanism, firing pin attachment, new hammer and trigger introduced by injection molding process
Starting numbers and years on the model 29 N-frame revolver
N1-1969-72
N100000 1973
N200000 1974-77

N300000 1975-76
N400000 1977-78
N500000 1978-80
N600000 1979-80
N700000 1980
N800000 1980-83
N900000 1982-86

The model 29 S&W is one of the most sought after revolvers
in a 6" blued variation.  These sell quickly and you can still find them on gunbroker.com or on gunauction.com.  Many people place bids on these when the pop up.  I have seen many of these sell in pairs as well.  The model 29 looks great in its presentation box and many collectors still drool over the opportunity to purchase one of these.

Smith and Wesson Model 57

The Smith and Wesson Model 57 is another masterpiece that was produce in the early 1960's.  Originally, Elmer Keith called this round "41 police" but after a long debate "41 Magnum" was agreed upon.  The size was between the famous .357 or .38 calibre and the .44 special or magnum.  The .41 magnum was designed with the police officer in mind. The recoil and size of the round however prohibited it from moving forward making it much more popular with civilian target shooters and hunters alike.
Today the .41 magnum is a difficult round to find and most who own one do their own reloading.  The demand for .41 magnum is paltry compared to a round such as the .357 or .44.
The model 57 is constructed on the Smith and Wesson N-frame and has a 6 round capacity like most other revolvers.  The model 57 can be rare and difficult to locate but its cousin the model 58 can be had at good prices.  Essentially the model 58 is a stripped down version of the model 57 and was created to allow police departments to purchase these in volume at a cheaper price.
The .41 was designed to fill the size gap and by 1964 it was introduced by Remington and Smith and Wesson released the model 57 at the same time.  At this time the name "magnum" was popular and Remington wanted to capitalize on that and so they named it the .41 Magnum.
Essentially the model 57 was really a model 29 in .41 calibre.  It sported a red front site with a white outlined rear sight.  It was equipped with a target hammer, target trigger, and over sized wooden grips.

The word "Magnum" eventually was a political hot topic as it was more recognized as a hunting round and not something the public wanted the police using on civilians.  During the 1970's this became a sensitive subject and eventually worked against them.  The officers were more than happy with the firepower of their .38's or the new .357 magnums.  These produce plenty of power without the recoil of the model 57 or 58.
In 1986 Smith and Wesson introduced the stainless steel model which was the 657.  This came standard with all available barrel lengths and even a very rare 5".  If you know of a 5" model for sale, please let me know.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Combat Magnum

     Hello American revolver fans and fanatics.  I wanted to create this blog so that other collectors of these amazing American firearms would have a chance to read and share their passion like mine.  I have been a fan of firearms since I was about 9 years old.  I served a combat tour in Iraq and carried countless firearms while serving in our countries military.  Does this make me an expert? Hardly! I do truly love them and want to find like minded people to share their stories with me on my blogs.
    I would like to start off writing about the Model 19. Anyone who has ever held this magnificent firearm  can tell you that it is truly like no other.  The K-frame fits like a glove in virtually all hands.  The .357 cartridge design was created by Philip Sharpe in the 1930's when police were looking for a more powerful round.  Winchester developed the .357 round and essentially it's .125 longer than the .38 special.  The additional length gave the round an incredible punch with amazing accuracy.  The model 19 is a very accurate revolver and anyone who has ever dropped the hammer on one can verify this.  I understand that many other revolvers are just as accurate but in my opinion, none possess the comfort and ease of use that the 19 does.
     How does this revolver vary? Well, it's one of the only revolvers that an amateur can pick up and become quite proficient in a very limited time.  Whether you're a farmer or a school teacher you can pick up a model 19 and fire it with great effectiveness.

I have seen many variations with the grips and barrel lengths.  No matter what size barrel, the 19 is deadly accurate.  The K-frame S&W fits most hands much better than the larger N frame models.  Yes this results in a little more recoil than the N-frames but the ease of use is unparalleled.  Many start off using the .38 calibre bullets for less recoil and ease of use.  This round is not only cheaper but allows the user to become proficient with the firearm before moving into the more powerful round.
The model 19 is one of the most balanced and ergonomic revolvers ever designed. The first models that Smith and Wesson released were in April 8th of 1935.  These were refereed to as the .357 Magnum Revolvers. The man who was responsible for the physical design was Bill Jordan of the US Border Patrol.  He consulted with S&W on every turn of the firearm. The first one was called the "Combat Magnum" and has serial number K260,000 and was presented to Mr. Jordan on November 15th, 1955.  
The model 19 came in a variety of choices such as 2.5",3",4" and 6" barrels with wood or rubber grips and an adjustable rear sight.  It also had a serrated trigger, semi target hammer, and it's weights are 30.5 ounces, 36 ounces, and 39 ounces.  
If you have never held one, or if you have never fired one, do yourself a favor and go and do so.  You can rent one at your local firing range and let us know how it felt.  If you would like to add your own experiences with the 19, please do below.  Many people think that if there was only one pistol they could own, they would own the S&W model 19 Combat Magnum.