A few of my favorite things…

Many thanks to the fine folks at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum for hosting us yesterday and allowing us access for some research for upcoming novels.

A few pictures…

S&W Americans and a Schofield-

A pair of S&W Americans. The top one is engraved and probably plated after modification, it’s an original ‘American’. The bottom one is a ‘New American’, later production. Both have ivory grips. Notice the difference in the humpbacks above the grips.

The engraved one has had the barrel cut two inches and a new sight installed…

AND the engraved one was converted from what appeared to be .44 caliber to a .22 with sleeves that were (we think) welded in!!!

This is a military Schofield, last patent date 1873. Left and right views.

And the stamping on the left grip, 1876 and a set of fine script initials. The initials belong to LT James Rockwell Jr a government inspector from 1874-76. (h/t Not Clausewitz)

Lastly, one in ‘slightly’ worse shape…

This is one of those “I gotta have a gun” guns… Farm/ranch ‘fixing’ at it’s best…

Currently missing trigger and pin, carved wooden grip, overwrap with old telephone wire, barrel is held on by nut/bolt from somewhere, and it’s fired some ‘hot’ rounds based on the gas marks on the barrel in front of the cylinder…

In answer to an emailed question, yes you could have fired it by simply pulling the hammer back and dropping it.

Again, thanks for the access and extending your expertise!

Comments

A few of my favorite things… — 18 Comments

  1. WSF- Yep, and that’s why ‘some’ of us like to make sure what we put in the stories is correct about the various weapons! 🙂

  2. Back in the mid-60’s I was TDY to Amarillo AFB with the rest of a KC-135 Flight Simulator crew. On a Sat. we were out sightseeing and as we drove thru downtown Canyon, TX a policeman ordered us to pull over & park. “Boys a parade is coming thru”. Well, it was a centennial parade with the Gov., Texas Rangers, Kilgore College gals & more. A barbeque was spread out on the Courthouse lawn (best I’ve ever had. I feel in love w/beef brisket right there). the only charge was for the Cokes. Good thing we weren’t in uniform. (remember how GI’s were treated back then)

  3. Forgive my ignorance, but what on Earth is a ‘hot round’?

  4. The guns in the top three photos aren’t Schofields. Look at the latch on the military Schofield vs. the other ones. They are probably S&W ‘American’ models, so called to differentiate them from the ‘Russian’ model.

  5. Woody- Yep, typical of the ‘hospitality’ in a good way…

    NC- Thanks!!! I couldn’t find anything, but then my googlefu sucks!

    JMI- Overpowered, too much powder or bullet set too far back in the case.

    David- Corrected, thanks.

  6. I was expecting
    Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels / Doorbells and sleigh bells / And schnitzel with noodles / Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings…

    • These are a few of my favorite things!
      Pistols and parasols
      And girls in white camisoles
      Long odds and wins
      with London dry gin
      Money and women are all very nice
      Christian librarians are my favorite vice!

  7. Those top-break revolvers are very cool. I wonder about the performance potential for a remake using modern materials, modern test methods to ensure reliability and durability. I would look at one chambered for five rounds of .44 Special.

    I would sure be interested in picking one up if the price was reasonable.

  8. Ed- LOL

    ERJ- No idea, but I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody wasn’t thinking about doing them…

  9. Very nice. There’s something about a break open revolver that appeals to me. I think maybe it’s the coolness factor.

    Does anyone make a modern break open revolver?

  10. Bearing the curse of being an engineer (not the train kind), I often look at things from a “how can they be improved” viewpoint. That being said, I’ve often wondered why no one in the 1870’s came up with a speed loader for top break revolvers. It seems like it would be fairly simple, a wood cylinder to fit over the revolver’s cylinder and a brass mechanism to hold the cartridges in place until dropped.