Whether your interest is in martially marked examples or the colorful guns that won the West, this book is for you. Both collectors and shooters will agree that the level of detail is unprecedented, including many hundreds of technical drawings and close-up photographs showing the very markings and features that are discussed in the text. This is the kind of hands-on, useful guide that will be your constant resource - a true "standard reference" on all aspects of these fascinating sixguns. No one with an interest in historical firearms can afford to be without it. This is the story of the revolvers that made Smith & Wesson's reputation on the frontier, the battlefield and the shooting range - and no detail is left out. Hardbound, this 480 page book is filled with black and white photographs and drawings.
The Table of Contents includes the following:
Chapter 1 - The History
Introduction
The History of Smith & Wesson's Top-Break Revolvers
What is a Top-Break?
Built on an Old Work Ethic
Radicals!
Was it Talent, or Was it Luck?
Life Imitating Art, or How We Forgot the Smith & Wesson Top-Break
Smith & Wesson: Where Did These Guys Come From?
Just What is a Gunsmith?
Acquaintances
That Robbins & Lawrence Armory
Seeds of Industry
The Railroad Cars
Mr. Smith of Smith & Wesson: Horace Smith 1808-1893
Mr. Wesson of Smith & Wesson: Daniel Baird Wesson 1825-1906
Now, a Partnership: The First Smith & Wesson
The Model No. 1 Pistols and a Second Partnership
A New Era, the Top-Break is Born
The First U.S. Military Contract: Smith & Wesson Goes Over the Top
Enter the Russians
"More Smith & Wessons for the U.S. Army," insists Col. Schofield!
New Developments Come in Medium and Large Sizes
Single Actions, Large and Small: The Final Phase
Small and Medium Double Actions: The Mainstay
1881: Finally, Big Double Actions!
1882: A "Favorite" Year
Phasing Out
Smith & Wesson's Roots... Who's Who
Chapter 2 - Identifying the Models No. 3
Introduction to the Identification of Smith & Wesson Top-Break Revolvers
The Top-Break Frame Sizes
Identifying the Finishes Used on Smith & Wesson Top-Break Revolvers
Color Case Hardening
Bluing
Plating
Rejected and Factory-Flawed Guns?
Summary of Normal Finishes
Model No. 3 Barrel Patent Marking
Critical Dimensions Measured and Compared
The Guns
The American Models
Model No. 3 First Model
General Information
Engineering Changes: The Early First Models
Significant First Model Americans
Transition Model Americans
Model No. 3 Second Model
Identifying Serial Numbers, Assembly Numbers and Locations
General Information
Engineering Changes: A Third Model American Emerges
Significant Second Model Americans
The Russian Models
American or Russian?
Model No. 3 Russian, First Model
Serial Number Locations
The Russians Came Back
Model No. 3 Russian, Second Model
Serial Number Locations
Another New Model
Model No. 3 Russian, Third Model
Serial Number Locations
The .45 Schofield
First Model Schofield
Second Model Schofield
The New Model No. 3 Revolvers
Frontier Models
New Model Rifles
New Model No. 3
New Model No. 3 Turkish
New Model No. 3 Frontier
New Model No. 3 .38 Winchester
New Model No. 3 Target
Model .320 Revolving Rifle
Double Action Models
.44 Double Action First Model
.44 Double Action Frontier
.44 Wesson Favorite
.38 Winchester Double Action
Chapter 3 - The Collecting and Purchasing of Smith & Wesson Top-Break Revolvers
Buying Large Frame Smith & Wessons
Learn About What You are Looking at - Meet Other Collectors
What About Values?
Pay Attention to All the Details
What the Finishes Should Look Like
Paying Attention to the Mechanics
Getting to Know Them
Action Operation: Smith & Wesson's Single Actions
Action Operation: .44 Top-Break Double Actions
Chapter 4 - Basic Care and Maintenance, Shooting, Disassembly & Cleaning
Shooting and Managing the Top-Break
Disassembly Instructions for:
1st Model American
2nd Model American
3rd Model American
1st Model Russian
2nd Model Russian
3rd/New Model Russian
Model No. 3 Schofield
New Model No. 3
.44 Double Actions
Navy Arms/Uberti Schofield
Navy Arms New Model Russian
Black Powder Cleaning Procedures
Normal Maintenance and Deep Cleaning
Chapter 5 - Model No. 3 Component Parts
An Outline of the Parts Used in No. 3 Smith & Wessons
Major Parts Variations
Components Parts Lists and Parts Interchangeability
.44 American 1st Model
.44 American 2nd Model
.44 American 3rd Model and .44 Russian 1st Model
.44 Russian 2nd Model
.44 Russian 3rd Model
.44 New Model No. 3
.45 Schofield 1st and 2nd Models
.44 Double Action
Dimensional Drawings of Screws, Pins and Small Parts
Screw Sizes For Model No. 3 Top-Break Revolvers
Mainspring Dimensions
Smith & Wesson Top-Break Sights
Chapter 6 - Gunsmithing the Top-Break Revolvers and Modern Replicas
How They Work - A Revolver Primer
Three Important Revolver Terms
Revolver Hand and Ratchet Systems
Tools and Disassembly
Practice Good Craftsmanship
Screwdrivers: The Backbone of Gun Work
The Screw Jack
More Tools for Screw Removal
Punches and Pins
Other Special Punches
Punches That Shouldn't Be Used For Hitting Pins
Hammers and How to Hit
Dummy Cartridges
The Capture Box
Files
Pliers
Drills and Drill Presses
Gunsmithing Basics
Screw Repairs
Making Gun Screws and Pins
Some Thoughts on Gun Screws
Vintage Screw Heads and Slots
What to Make Screws and Pins From
Making Pins
To Dome or Not to Dome
Making Screws - How to Do it
Screw Threading and Dies
Steps to Screw Turning and Threading
Back to the All-Important Screw Slot
Heat Treatment and Hardening
For Appearance Sake
Troubleshooting
The Damage Caused by Smokeless Ammunition
Troubleshooting the Top-Break Revolvers
Bent Frames - A Real Possibility
Bulged Barrels
Specific Repair Procedures
Bent Frames
Barrel Catch Repairs
Schofield Eccentric Cylinder Catch Screws
Hammer and Trigger Work, the Single Action
Hand Talk
Hand Springs for Single Actions
Hand Springs for Double Actions
Headspace, Cylinder End-Shake Repairs and the Extractor Stud
Cimarron Schofield Repair Tips
Revolver Grip Repairs
History and Explanation of Gun Metal Finishes
Removing Finishes
Stripping Nickel Plate
Chapter 7 - Copies of the Smith & Wesson Top-Break
The Modern Smith & Wesson Manufactured Schofield Copy
Dimensional/Parts Comparisons
The Modern, Italian-Made Copies
Cimarron Firearms and EMF First Model Schofield
ASM Schofield Troubleshooting and Repairs
Navy Arms, Uberti Schofield Revolvers
Dimensional/Parts Comparisons
The Navy Arms New Model Russian
Dimensional/Parts Comparisons
Chapter 8 - Military Use of the Smith & Wesson Top-Break Revolver
The U.S. Army Contract
The Russians and Smith & Wesson
"Let's try it again"... Major Schofield Takes Another Shot at the U.S. Army
U.S. Army Model No. 3
Model No. 3
The Russian Contract Models
Model No. 3 Russian, First Model
Model No. 3 Russian, Second Model
Model No. 3 Russian, Third Model
The .45 Schofield
First Model Schofield
Second Model Schofield
The New Model No. 3s
New Model No. 3
Military New Models
Serial Number List
Another 7th Cavalry Nickel-Plated Smith & Wesson No. 3 Revolver
Chapter 9 - Famous Guns, Famous People
Revolvers, Reality and the Theater
.44 Americans at Little Bighorn
Target Shooting Becomes the Rage
Some Good, Some Bad and Some Legends
Black Troopers and Schofields
A Few Famous Smith & Wessons, a Few Famous People
Chapter 10 - Smith & Wesson Top-Break Ammunition
A Short History
Ammunition Specifications
Chapter 11 - Reloading Ammunition for the Smith & Wesson Top-Break
"Hot" Hand Loads and Smokeless Powder
Some General Information Relating to Black Powder Cartridges
