Old S&W single action help??? differences between "baby Russian" & model 1 1/2 & 2

just talking handguns ( cause I'm out of room for any more long guns :o ) I've got a good collection of modern guns ( was / am partial to stainless from a practical point of view ) & partial to revolvers, but still have "enough" modern semi autos, & a good collection of C&R Czech semi autos... but lately ( after getting my CCW ) I became pretty interested in old CCW type guns... often a chopped off barrel on an old gun, turns off the "real collectors" which I guess is good for me, as I find those more interesting ( & affordable ) than a pristine non chopped model...

my chopped ( like 75 - 100 years ago ) 32 S&W model 1.5 & my Model 2 that I chopped the barrel on, because the guns finish was in poor condition, but mechanically it was perfect, & the last inch of barrel at the muzzle was heavily pitted, are probably my 2 favorite guns right now... I load for both cartridges, & have both a target ( with lead round ball ) & an acceptable defense load ( with 100 grain cast bullets ) that I can shoot in these guns... I think they are just plain fun to shoot, & put a big :D on my face when I shoot them
 
Winchester 73 said:
It might be worth it for you to buy the SCSW 3rd ed.
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This! ^^^^^ What he said!

If you're going to play the old S&W game, that book is money well spent.
 
I am not even going to try to wade through all that. I tried to use the original S&W terminology, but the collector terms and what "I use" always win.

I will note, for Winchester 73, that the statement "The 38 SA 2nd model is kind of a 1 1/2 centerfire, just enlarged" is not quite correct; the .38 came first, so the .32 is the .38 SA 2nd Model reduced. Also a free tip - if you have to remove the cylinder from a Baby Russian, do not force it; cylinders have been ruined that way. Remove the screw in the top strap; that releases the cylinder retainer, which then can slide back with the cylinder until the cylinder comes free.

If you want a decent book on the older S&W's skip SCSW and see if you can find a copy of Neal and Jinks' Smith and Wesson 1857-1945. The pictures are better, the writers more knowledgeable, and the X-ray photos alone are invaluable.

Jim
 
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I can find the Neal & Jinks book listed on Amazon's search, but not the SCSW book... can someone tell what that is the abriviation for ??? so I can see if they have a copy ??? I've picked up what material I can find on the Hopkins & Allen Safety Police models, I should get some reference material on these Smiths as well... thanks for the book suggestions
 
magnum wheel man said:
I can find the Neal & Jinks book listed on Amazon's search, but not the SCSW book... can someone tell what that is the abriviation for ???
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Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 3rd Edition, by Supica and Nahas.

Jim Keenan is correct that the Neal & Jinks book is much more in-depth and tightly-focused, but the downside is that it's also more in-depth and tightly-focused. Of course, if you have a C&R, it does cover the only portion of S&W history you're probably interested in. ;)
 
Sorry for not spelling out that abbreviation. I am so used to everyone knowing what it means I slip up from time to time.

Jim
 
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