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The U.S. Bureau of Standards verified the machine’s accuracy. The second image
on page 140 shows a close up of the engraved gold plate on the right side of the
receiver. On page 141 is a photograph of the “three of the 6-shot groups listed on
the gold plate on side of Smith & Wesson Revolver, No. 286600, which were
shot in 1924 in Judith Theatre at Lewistown, Montana, before members of the
committee and several hundred witnesses.” The plate on the right side of the
revolver reads, “Ed McGivern/JUDITH THEATRE FEB. 10th 1924/Lewistown,
Mont./6 SHOTS 4-5th SECOND/6 SHOTS 9-10th SECOND/6 SHOTS 9-10TH
SECOND/6 SHOTS ONE SECOND/6 SHOTS ONE SECOND/ALL UNDER OUTLINE
OF HAND.” The plate on the left side of the revolver reads, “5 Shots 1/2-3/5-
7/10 Sec.” above “Under Outline of Hand/Lewistown Police Dept./Dec 13 1931/
Witnesses.” The revolver has matching serial numbers on the butt, right grip panel, cylinder, and
barrel. The barrel has standard S&W markings. No doubt the original Marble Sheard front sight was changed out to a King gold beaded blade by McGivern, who was always
experimenting with different types of sights. He preferred a gold bead for the front sight. The rear sight is an adjustable “U” notch. The revolver wears a set of gold S&W
medallion checkered walnut grips. See the following lot for a target used by Ed McGivern in an August 20, 1932 demonstration. As noted by serial number on the target,
this revolver was also used by McGivern to set 5 shots into a 1 inch group at 20 feet in 9/20th of a second, a record he still holds today.
Ed McGivern (1874-1957), “the World’s Fastest Gun,” was fascinated by fast shooting after witnessing a shootout in Sheridan, Wyoming, and he learned sign painting from
his father. He lived in Lewistown from 1924 until 1949. Even after gaining fame for his shooting, he earned much of his living painting for Graham’s Sign & Poster Shop and
later his own business called McGivern Outdoor Advertising. He is easily one of the most famous and renowned exhibition shooters and handgunning authors of the 20th
century and also trained law enforcement officers locally and with the FBI. He published “Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting” in 1938. He held many records in his day for
fast and accurate shooting and still holds some, such as drawing and firing 5 shots into a 1 inch group at 20 feet in less than half
a second (recorded as 9/20th of a second in August 1932). He could shoot dimes thrown into the air and preformed fast shooting
demonstrations with guns in each hand. He preferred double action revolvers and claimed he could shoot faster with a revolver
than any semi-automatic pistol could keep up with. In fact, his rate of fire is said to be faster than an AK-47. One of his recorded
stunts was hitting a can thrown roughly 20 feet in the air six times with a Colt double action revolver before it hit the ground.
Elmer Keith said McGivern was “the fastest and finest double-action revolver shot that ever lived and probably ever will.” Some of
his handguns are on display in the National Firearms Museum, and very few of his guns are in private hands today.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine showing authentic wear and tear associated with a handgun used by McGivern to set speed
shooting records, with 95% plus of the original finish remaining. The fine grips show similar shooting record setting “working gun
character” with most of the softened checkering on the right panel. Mechanically excellent. Do not miss your chance to own a
well-documented S&W target revolver owned by renowned handgunner Ed McGivern used in his early days of speed shooting
record setting. A true piece of handgunner history!
Provenance: Deputy
Sheriff L. A. Smith; Ed
McGivern; Smith & Wesson
Vice President Douglas B.
Wesson; S&W historian
Roy Jinks; The Colonel Rex
Applegate Collection; The
Mike Priwer Collection.
Estimate: 85,000 - 130,000