February 23, 2012, 08:38 AM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 15, 2006
Posts: 434
|
S&W percussion revolvers
I see a lot of Colt,Remington,and other percussion revolvers,but do not recall ever seeing,or hearing about S&W during that era.
Did they make percussion revolvers,or did they not start til the cartridge era? |
February 23, 2012, 10:26 AM | #2 |
Staff
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,378
|
Nope, S&W never made percussion revolvers.
Horace Smith & Daniel Wesson partnered in the early 1850s to produce one of the earliest US-made cartridge guns, the lever-action Volcanics. These used a hollow-base bullet, into which was loaded a powder charge and a primer. The concept was largely a failure, and the company came under the control of Oliver Winchester, who would take lever-action concept and run with it. Smith & Wesson a few years later founded their company, and shortly afterwards began producing guns for a cartridge patented by Smith (I think it was Smith), the .22 Short rimfire. And the rest, as they say, is history.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower. |
February 23, 2012, 11:10 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,187
|
S&W acquired the Rollin White patent in 1857 I believe and began producing small bore revolvers in 1858. The patent didn't expire until 1872 is why Colt and Remington took so long to make cartridge guns.
|
February 23, 2012, 11:43 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 14, 2009
Location: Macon Co. NC
Posts: 591
|
Now, Edwin Wesson (Daniel's older brother) was famous for his percussion target rifles and pistols, and Daniel apprenticed under him when he was young. Edwin was famous for inventing the false muzzle for muzzleloading rifles which aided in helping extreme accuracy.
The book History of S&W written by Roy Jinks gives a complete history. (However, there are much cheaper places to get a copy than amazon- like the S&W website) I do have one example of an original Wesson target pistol in .31 caliber.
__________________
Barney Fife: "Nip it, nip it, nip it!" Andy Griffith:"Oh now Barn'...." |
February 23, 2012, 12:03 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 27, 2010
Posts: 211
|
Andy, According to my sources the False Muzzle was invented by Massachusetts telescope maker Alvan Clark in 1840.
|
February 23, 2012, 04:34 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 21, 2008
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 1,393
|
Here's my False Muzzle on my Pistol
|
February 23, 2012, 05:40 PM | #7 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 14, 2009
Location: Macon Co. NC
Posts: 591
|
Quote:
Well shucks...I do know he was famous for putting them on his target rifles though.
__________________
Barney Fife: "Nip it, nip it, nip it!" Andy Griffith:"Oh now Barn'...." |
|
February 23, 2012, 11:23 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 16, 2012
Posts: 108
|
first time i've ever seen a false muzzle ( yes i've led a sheltered life )...
how exactly does it increase accuracy? |
February 24, 2012, 05:39 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 8, 2007
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 16,187
|
It's used to help start a tight patch/ball combo. It's removed for firing.
|
February 24, 2012, 06:53 AM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 15, 2006
Posts: 434
|
Good info.History is facinating for sure.
|
February 24, 2012, 12:47 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: January 16, 2012
Posts: 108
|
agree!
thanks Hawg for the info |
February 24, 2012, 03:41 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: November 19, 2009
Posts: 3,286
|
kwhi43 - nice lookin' false muzzle. I always wanted a rifle with one of those . . . that way, my barrel would look longer than it actually was . . a "man" thing . . . .
My luck though . . . I wouldn't have tied it to the bench and I would have shot it down range . . . I wonder if one would "key hole"?
__________________
If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63 |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|