AMERICAN REVOLVERS--SMITH & WESSON'S PRODUCTIONS.
The armory of Messrs. Smith & Wesson is located at Springfield, Mass., and
is said to be the most complete establishment for the manufacture of
revolvers in the world. The work produced at this armory has a world-wide
reputation, and their products are sent to nearly every country on the
globe. The revolvers are beautifully made, as perfect as it seems possible
to construct them; they have a perfect contour, are symmetrical, well
balanced, and possess great accuracy. The arm was formerly constructed in
calibres from .22 to .45; but, a few years ago, this firm discontinued
making the .22 calibre. Formerly the .22 and .32 calibres were opened by
pressing a clutch under the action, and the barrel and cylinder were
pushed upwards; the cylinder was then removed, and the shell extracted
from the cylinder by a fixed post. Later the invention of the automatic
shell-ejector was added, and the revolver opened by a clasp, the barrel
and cylinders tip downward, the action at the same time ejecting the
shells. All of the revolvers now made at the factory of Smith & Wesson are
after this model, and are known as follows:--
New Model Army, No. 3: weight, 2-1/2 pounds; central fire; calibre .44;
six shot; length of barrel, 6-1/2 inches.
New Model Navy, No. 3: double action, central fire; calibre .44; six shot;
weight, 2-3/16 pounds; length of barrel, 4, 5 and 6 inches.
New Model 38, No. 2: weight, 16 ounces; central fire; calibre .38; five
shot; length of barrel, 3-1/4, 4, and 5 inches.
New Model 38, No. 2: double action; central fire; calibre .38; five shot;
weight, 18 ounces; length of barrel, 3-1/4, 4, and 5 inches.
New Model 32, No. 1-1/2: weight, 12-1/2 ounces; central fire; calibre .32;
five shot; length of barrel, 3 and 3-1/2 inches.
New Model 32, No. 1-1/2: double action; central fire; calibre .32; five
shot; weight, 14 ounces; length of barrel, 3 and 3-1/2 inches.
New Model Hammerless Safety Revolver; central fire; calibres .32, .38 and
.44; weight, in .38 calibre, 18-1/2 oz.; with barrels of different
lengths.
New Target Revolver: single action; central fire; calibre .32; six shots;
weight, 2-12/16 pounds; length of barrel, 6-1/2 inches.
Probably the chief reason why the products of Smith & Wesson are so
excellent, is because, since 1859, this firm has been engaged exclusively
in the manufacture of revolvers. They endeavored to procure and construct
the most complete and perfect machinery for the manufacture of their
revolvers; and, by the system of inspection of parts adopted by this
firm, the slightest imperfection in material and workmanship may be
detected, and, when discovered, is instantly condemned.
[Illustration: SMITH & WESSON REVOLVER, .32 CALIBRE, SINGLE ACTION.]
The barrels, cylinders, and all the small parts, are made of the best
quality of cast-steel, and the framework of Bessemer steel, made at Troy,
N.Y.
We have closely watched the impressions made upon some of the most skilful
mechanics in America when a Smith & Wesson revolver was submitted for
their inspection, and these severest of critics would invariably seem to
revel in the pleasure they experienced in seeing such a perfect piece of
mechanical work, and unhesitatingly commended the workmanship in the
highest terms. One famous maker of hand-made duelling-pistols in France,
spent days in examining the Smith & Wesson, Russian Model Army pistol,
using a magnifying-glass for the purpose of putting on the finest possible
finish in the mechanism, in order to gain an absolute perfect working of
the parts. He pronounced it the finest work he had ever seen made by
machinery.
One of the noticeable points of excellence in the Smith & Wesson
revolvers, insured by the perfection of the parts, is the perfect
revolution of the cylinder, which brings the chamber exactly opposite the
barrel when the revolver is cocked, it being absolutely necessary that the
cylinder be opposite the barrel at the moment of the discharge of the
weapon to secure accurate results at a good distance. We have fired shots
from revolvers well known to the trade where the cylinder did not bring
the chambers exactly opposite the barrel, and found one side of the bullet
shaved or scraped off, which we believe the reader will see is likely to
impair the shooting of the arm. This fault is not found in the Smith &
Wesson revolver.
[Illustration: SMITH & WESSON REVOLVER, RUSSIAN MODEL, .44 CALIBRE, SINGLE
ACTION.]
The arm is operated as follows: Holding the revolver by the handle in the
right hand, lift the barrel-catch with the left thumb and forefinger. When
the barrel-catch is clear of the barrel the cylinder tips downward, when
the cartridges are placed in the chambers the barrel is then swung back
into position, when the barrel-catch locks the parts together, the hammer
cocked, the arm discharged, then opened as before described, the barrel
brought down to a certain point, which acts automatically, and ejects the
shells.
[Illustration: SMITH & WESSON REVOLVER, RUSSIAN MODEL, .44 CALIBRE DOUBLE
ACTION.]
The .32 and .38 calibre revolvers manufactured by this firm are chiefly
used for pocket weapons; but some are manufactured with barrels six inches
in length, which make excellent target-pistols for 25 or 50 yards'
shooting. As revolver-shooting is becoming so popular in America, probably
a more intelligent study of this arm is now being made by marksmen then
ever before; and, while the advantages of a solid-framed revolver with a
fixed barrel are admitted for certain uses, it seems to be generally
admitted that, for fine work, where accuracy is the chief object, no
revolver is equal to one which permits of an inspection of the inside of
the barrel. Any revolver which takes a cartridge of sufficient power to
make it a suitable weapon of defence will foul, with the present
ammunition in use, to such an extent as to impair its accuracy after a
dozen shots, and many individuals believe with a less number. It is
therefore the custom of all the best revolver-shots the writer has ever
met, when using full charges, and wishing to do fine work, to clean the
inside of the barrel as often as every ten shots; and, from the difficulty
often experienced in removing the adamantine-like crust which adheres to
the inside of the barrel, we believe we are correct in asserting that a
majority of revolver-shooters, when they are fully aware of the necessity
for keeping the barrel clean, will select a revolver which permits of the
cleaning-brush being passed through the barrel from the breach end, and
thorough inspection of the barrel, which can be done so readily and
satisfactorily in the Smith & Wesson revolver. It would seem from the fact
that nearly every manufacturer of the cheaper grades of revolvers,
manufactured in such enormous quantities for the masses, have imitated the
action of Smith & Wesson, which seems to show that this principle is most
in demand by the trade.
Revolvers with a barrel of five inches, or less, in length are generally
classed as pocket revolvers, and those of the Smith & Wesson make are
accurate up to twenty yards; doubtless good shooting can be done at a
longer distance, depending entirely upon what the shooter would call fine
work; but, as one or two additional inches in length make the arm capable
of doing so much finer work, that most revolver-shooters readily perceive
the difference, and, waiving the convenience of a revolver with a
five-inch barrel, which can be carried in the pocket, they select one with
a barrel not less than six inches, and as the distance of out-of-door
revolver-shooting, in America, is from 25 to 50 yards, they have a weapon
capable of great accuracy at these distances.
The old American model Smith & Wesson revolver was formerly a great
favorite with many who knew what weapon to select to do good work with.
Many are in use to-day, and highly valued as a very accurate weapon; but
this model has been superseded by a new model army revolver, which is
generally known as the .44-cal. Russian model, the name being given on
account of the Russian government purchasing 150,000 of this model for her
cavalry. This model seems to grow in popularity each year, and many of the
best revolver-shots in America have selected it as their choice of
weapons. Some time ago when Chevalier Ira Paine, the expert pistol-shot,
decided to introduce revolver-shooting as one of the attractions of his
exhibitions, he consulted Gastine Renette, the famous pistol-manufacturer
of France, as to the best weapon for his purpose. Their object was to find
the most accurate revolver which would shoot a light charge at short
range, in-doors, avoiding noise and smoke, and a charge powerful enough to
do accurate shooting up to fifty yards or more, and be powerful enough to
be an army pistol. These two experts spent a great amount of time in this
work, firing thousands of shots from a rest, from a vise, and off-hand.
Among other things they learned was what the writer found, that, with
revolvers of some make, the cylinder not running exactly opposite the
barrel, the accuracy was affected; but in all their experiments none came
so near perfection as the .44-cal., Russian model, Smith & Wesson
revolver, and Chevalier Paine uses that revolver exclusively in his stage
work, using a light charge and round ball, and in his out-door shooting
the regular charge, always the factory ammunition.
As there are many who wish for a light charge for target-work, but
recognize that the 6-inch barrel is necessary, as well as a handle of
proper size to grasp, the manufacturers have produced a .32-calibre in
this model, which is becoming very popular, for it is very accurate, and
has excellent sights for fine work. Among those who select the Smith &
Wesson revolver there are a majority who choose the Russian model, a
portion selecting the .32-calibre and many the .44-calibre; those who
choose the .44 desiring to shoot a weapon which is both powerful and
accurate, and the Russian model possesses both of these points. In testing
this model .44-calibre for accuracy at a distance of fifty yards, taking
six shots for a test, this being the number of chambers in the cylinder,
the testers have repeatedly, when shooting the arm with a rest, placed the
six shots in a three-inch circle at fifty yards.
A new departure in revolvers is made in the Smith & Wesson Hammerless,
Safety Revolver, which has recently been put on the market, and possesses
many points of originality and excellence. The inventor of this novel
mechanism is Mr. D. B. Wesson, who has previously contributed so much
towards developing the American revolver.
A hammerless revolver, a short time ago, would have been considered an
unsafe weapon. In this new revolver will be found less liability to
accidental discharge than in any weapon of this class we have ever
inspected, this being one of the chief objects kept in mind while the
inventor developed his mechanism.
A large proportion of the accidents which occur with revolvers arise from
carelessly manipulating the hammer or trigger, or from leaving the weapon
full-cocked for some child or novice to find and accidentally discharge.
The pulls on different revolvers vary to such an extent that when a
strange revolver with an outside hammer is in the hands of an expert even
an accidental discharge is liable to occur; this is avoided in the new
hammerless revolver.
In addition to the visible hammer being the cause of many accidents is the
constant annoyance caused by its projecting and interfering with quickly
drawing the weapon from the pocket or holster. The weapon described is for
the use of the soldier, the police officer, or for those called upon to
use this weapon of defence rapidly and effectively; hence a self-acting or
self-cocking revolver is necessary, and by dispensing with the projecting
outside hammer the rapidity of action in drawing the weapon is increased,
and therefore a very desirable point is gained.
The illustration shows the mechanism of the new arm:--
A is the safety lever, B safety-latch, C hammer, D trigger, F main-spring,
G safety-latch spring. The hammer C, which is acted upon and raised by the
trigger D, as in their self-cocking arms, is kept constantly locked by the
safety-latch B, which is held in position by the safety-latch spring G.
The point is emphasized, that when not in use the arm cannot be
discharged, as will be seen from the arrangement of the parts. When held
in the hand for firing, the natural pressure exerted by the hand in the
movement of pulling the trigger upon the safety-lever A causes it to act
upon the safety-latch B, raising it and releasing the hammer.
[Illustration: SMITH & WESSON HAMMERLESS, SAFETY REVOLVER.]
It will be observed that it is among the impossibilities to cock and
discharge this revolver when held in an improper manner, as a child or
novice would be likely to do.
The arrangement of the mechanism is such that the safety catch and trigger
must act in unison, and it is necessary that an amount of grasp and
strength, not possessed by a child, be applied in order to discharge the
weapon.
By those familiar with revolvers the question will naturally arise, With
all these advantages can you secure accuracy? We confess we were among the
disbelievers that great accuracy could be secured with a self-cocking
revolver, and even now if we were to confine our shooting to target and
game shooting would give preference to the other revolvers made by this
firm; but for a self-cocking revolver this weapon possesses, besides the
elements of safety and rapidity of manipulation, the important feature of
accuracy. We were full of doubts of our ability to secure accurate
shooting, or to observe it in others; but a trial has fully convinced us
that with practice one could nearly, if not quite, equal their
performances with a single-action revolver.
One soon familiarizes himself with the operations of this weapon. Pressure
is applied to the trigger, and the approach to the point where the last
ounce of pressure discharges the weapon is easily detected; previous to
the last ounce of pressure being given, a careful aim is taken, the final
pressure applied, and the weapon discharged.