Kind of a cool version, their "in between" the top break models and the swing out cylinder hand ejector models. What Smith and Wesson called The Perfected Model. Uses both the top break latch AND the cylinder release style thumb latch.

An apocryphal story has it that the design was motivated by an event where an officer had a criminal at gunpoint and the bad guy (with whatever passed for ninja like moves at the turn of the century) reached across and released the top break latch, rendering the officers gun useless.... Not sure if I buy that, but still a neat design!


Bill R.

Thanks for showing us your pistol, I didn't know about that model.

Looks brand new to me!

Never seen that one before! So what is the opening sequence? Cylinder release then top strap?

quote:

Originally posted by ohsheepdog:
Never seen that one before! So what is the opening sequence? Cylinder release then top strap?

Yeah, you have to push forwards on the cylinder release latch and then you can lift the top break latch.
Another trivia factoid: It's also the only Top Break Smith and Wesson with the side plate on the right side. You can use that as an almost perfect example of useless knowledge, but still... Might make a fun tiebreaker interview question or something...
Bill R

Very nice. Sip some whisky and admire that (unloaded) rare piece.

quote:

Originally posted by mr kablammo:
Very nice. Sip some whisky and admire that (unloaded) rare piece.

Well... It's Buffalo Trace Bourbon tonight, actually! Since it's my "Friday night". And I'm still working on getting some S&W .38, and S&W .32, so for now all my Tp Breaks are perminantly unloaded!

Bill R

Very nice.

I never even would have noticed its' thumb latch. A nice old revolver and she still bares nearly all its nickle plate.

She's beautiful.

Nice find and addition! I love the charm of those old nickel wheel guns have. If only they could talk.

Just plain sweet...

Nice!
Thanks for the additional information!

Another feature I just noticed, the front of the cylinder is radiused.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunset_Va:
Another feature I just noticed, the front of the cylinder is radiused.

Scallops, they still do this today on some S&Ws.

That's a lovely old thing. I have never seen one "in the flesh".

What a great old revolver, nice catch sir.
Beautiful pic also.