Discovered a small gun store off the beaten path last week that has many older guns. Although initially drawn to a Remington Model 1858 revolver that didn't pan out, I saw this guy poking out from among the other pistols & tags haphazardly placed in a glass case.

I'm certainly no expert on the Smith & Wesson Model 2 pistol, but having one already I was somewhat familiar when looking it over. It didn't take long to decide this one was coming home with me.

For those who may be unfamiliar, Charles Pate described the Smith & Wesson Number 2 (or Model 2) revolver as "a tip-up, spur trigger, 6 shot revolver. It was made of forged wrought iron and was designed to fire a cartridge known today as the .32 Long Rim Fire The barrel is hinged at the top and has a fastening catch on the bottom strap. To load the revolver, one tips the barrel up, removes the cylinder and loads it, and then returns the cylinder to the frame. To remove spent cartridges, one removes the cylinder and punches them out, one by one, using the rammer pin located under the barrel."

History has not given the Smith & Wesson Model Two Army its proper place. At the time, Smith & Wesson was the Rolls Royce of its day of handguns, yet it seems to be mostly overlooked by today’s collectors. The Model Two represented the cutting edge of a period that contained many innovations and ideas relating to the firearms industry.

At the time, Smith & Wesson lead the handgun manufacturers into a new era, playing a great part in the history of the United States as well as many other countries. The key to the success of Smith & Wesson in the late 1850s and 1860s and the Model Two lies in the Rollin White Patent of 1855. Over the years volumes have been written on the subject, as it was indeed a key patent that shaped the direction of the firearms manufacturing industry.

After obtaining the rights to the Rollin White patent on the bored-through cylinder, Smith & Wesson found itself in an enviable position with the exclusive patent on the ground-breaking cartridge revolver, featuring a self-contained cartridge – no cap, no wad, no powder, no ball, and no ramrod. This breakthrough drove the gun’s popularity and demand.

The Model Two Army was perfectly suited to the demands for a belt-sized pistol, which could be carried in the waistband or a small holster. It could be quickly loaded with the new waterproof metallic cartridge and proved ideal for the soldier as well as those on the home front. The timing was crucial, as the first guns reached the marketplace in June of 1861, only two months after the first shots were fired marking the beginning of the American Civil War.

This was a time of dramatic turmoil, the likes of which American citizens had never experienced. Fear of invasion gripped the North, and Northern soldiers were searching for compact arms to carry to war. Orders rose so fast that by 1862 the company closed its order books, because they already had orders for more arms than they could produce in the next three years.

From the military point of view, a major drawback to the model’s use as a side arm was the small .32 rim fire caliber, which lacked the punch of the .44 cap and ball pistols. However, it certainly had the greater advantage over larger caliber pistols with the completely self-contained cartridge. The demand for this advantage made the Model Two Army an instant success, and by 1865 both Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson were each earning around $164,000 per year

This one is an early model with two pins at the top vs three soon thereafter. The gun is matching and even has some interesting inlays on the grips. There are two letters faintly scratched into the left cover plate. It's not the most pristine example but everything functions as it should. It has enough character to me to make it interesting.

Now, I'm not a fan of people saying "you stole it" or similar comments. However, I do feel that I purchased this one for a fantastic price. How much you ask? It was $260 out the door. No complaints here.

Apologies for the history lesson. Without further ado, here's my new-to-me Smith & Wesson Number 2.

[/IMG]

When we retire and leave Illinois, I'll be getting a 1911 and another AR. ARs are currently a no no here in Hellinois.

It only took me almost 9 years, but ever since Ruger came out with the MKIV (in 2016) I’ve wanted to upgrade from my older MKIII. I finally found one discounted on Black Friday and grabbed it. 22/45 target model with the heavy barrel. Love it. The takedown system is just night and day improvement.

Nothing else on the radar at the moment.

It would be hard to pass on a Remington SA 725, or a 722 in a calibre I do not have. Same for a pre64 70FW in a calibre I do not have. I have more 9mm, 45, 38 pistols than I will ever need.
A new Freepistol would be nice too

Bodyguard 2.0.

It's a funny thing...

Just about 25 years ago, my agency decided it was time to upgrade our duty guns. At the time, we were carrying the S&W model 6906 in 9mm. The powers that be decided we needed to upgrade to .40S&W and we tried the model 4013TSW. Didn't work out too well - we experienced a number of cracked frames with the initial order of those guns.
That led to more comprehensive T&E program, and when the dust settled we went to the SIG P229R-DAK in.40S&W.

That's what brought me here to SIGforum - a desire to learn more about the gun I'd just been issued.

Fast forward 20 years, and we're moving on again... SIG won't sell us new 229's; we can't reliably get parts for the ones we have, and SIG offered us bupkis for trade in for them toward a current platform.

So we're going back to S&W. Specifically, the M&P 2.0, still in .40 S&W. As part of this upgrade, they are FINALLY allowing us to mount lights and/or optics on our guns.
Since I'm now (as of September 30th) retired and a reserve officer, I get to buy my own (yay).

That means I'll be buying two firearms, as soon as NJ deigns to issue me the required permission slips for a pistol purchase. A Smith, and then (30 days later) the SIG I carried for 20 years

quote:

Originally posted by motor59:

Fast forward 20 years, and we're moving on again... SIG won't sell us new 229's; we can't reliably get parts for the ones we have, and SIG offered us bupkis for trade in for them toward a current platform.

Is it that SIG won’t sell you P229’s at all, or just not in .40? Or is the DAK mechanism what they don’t want to produce?Do you think it’s a matter of your agency not being big enough for SIG to really try for your business?

I could see SIG not wanting to produce a bunch of 229 pistols in .40, but it does not bode well at all if they wouldn’t sell you a bunch of 229 pistols in 9mm. Definitely interesting that your agency is sticking with .40, but not the first that I’ve heard of.

recently picked up a 1918 dated Webley Mark VI, not shaved,


and a couple Ross Rifles in the past year,


as far as what is next, no idea,

quote:

Originally posted by Oaklane:
Benelli or Beretta 28ga, leaning toward the Benelli at this point. New Dove, duck and goose getter

That's easy. Get one of each..or two...

I don't anticipate any firearms for 2025, since I'd acquired some last year, with the most recent in November.

If anything, I'll probably build or get a 458 SOCOM upper since I have a suitable suppressor. Maybe get a rimfire suppressor, and still looking for percussion caps for my BP revolver. I might even dip a toe into reloading.

A Tikka T3X, probably in 6.5 prc, unless a featherweight catches my eye first.

Actually, I have decided to sell a few safe queens that I rarely or never shoot. Have a new, unfired S/A M1A "tanker" my local FFL has listed for sale right now. Soon will be 75 and have more guns than I know what to do with...what a problem to have, lol !

Good question.

I'm kinda thinking a compact 9mm, maybe a Shield Plus, but, I am also feeling the itch for another 1911. Maybe a Combat Elite Commander .45 or possibly building one from scratch. Who knows.....

Most likely a CC9 once the price stabilizes. I'd really like a 1301 M2 or possibly an A300 Tactical but that is fairly unlikely with one daughter getting married and one in college.

I thought I was done (at least for a while) after I purchased a Gemtech Abyss 5.56 suppressor several months ago. Plus I’m out of space to store any more ( a good problem to have, I guess.)

However, I couldn’t resist the holiday sale price plus $100 rebate on a Beretta APX A1 Tactical to use as another suppressor host for my CGS Mod9. I was not intending to buy a gun around Christmastime, but it was too good a deal to pass up. I haven’t fired it yet, but I’m optimistic it will be a fun range toy. It feels great in the hand, and I’m hoping the trigger smooths out after putting some rounds through it.

Having said that though, if a Ruger LCR in .327 becomes available at a reasonable price I may have to succumb to temptation once again and buy “just one more”…

Also itching for a 1911. I have none.

Going to be a slow firearms year for me but, if the opportunity presents itself (These are wants not needs and I need to remember that):

- Shockwave 12ga
- Trade my 4.2" Python for a 6"
- 10.5" upper (And associated stamp)

At 77 I think I'm done. Last was taking a stripped lower DPMS / LR308 my late son had and building it in homage to him.

I've been on a lever gun kick (again) in the last couple of years. New Marlins, Henrys, Winchester and Rossi.

If I can find one, I'd like to end this binge with a Winchester Trapper Deluxe Take Down 16" in 357.

Oddly enough, I had to buy some cleaning supplies. I could find every bronze brush in the book except 9mm, and was way low on solvent.

A half hour after ordering online, I found a bottle of solvent (while looking for something else, of course). I expect to find the brush about the time the new ones show up.