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LOT 1089
Desirable Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle with Shoulder Stock and Factory
Letter - Serial no. 542, 320 S&W Rifle cal., 6 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut stock, hard rubber grips.
Manufactured from 1879 to 1887, with a total production of only 977 split among three standard barrel lengths of 16”, 18”
and 20”, Smith & Wesson’s Model 320 Revolving Rifle is one of the rarest models of their catalog. The included factory letter
lists this Model 320 as having originally shipped with an 18 inch barrel and blue finish to M.W. Robinson in New York on 24 July 1883. It also lists
that it was returned to the factory in April of 1952 and refinished in blue. This example, originally having an 18 inch barrel, was one of only 514
made in that configuration. These revolving “rifles” were very similar to Colt’s “Buntline Special”, which was also a descendant of previous “pistol-
carbines”. Like their predecessors, these combination arms failed to truly be good at being a handgun or a long gun, leading to limited production
and subsequently rarity and desirability on the collectors market. It is likely that the idea of these dual purpose guns was revived again during the “Wild West” period due to the desirability of carrying
a sidearm and a long gun chambered for the same cartridge, making sourcing ammunition easier in areas with limited commercial availability. This example had its barrel shortened to 6 inches during the 1952
factory restoration, making it much more manageable to have been used as a sidearm. According to our consignor, it is believed that the barrel shortening, forming of the short forearm and finish restoration was done
by Charles “Trigger” McGowan, a 50+ year employee of Smith & Wesson, and their primary craftsman of custom special order items, who created many unique and unusual guns over the course of his long career. McGowan was a
serious collector himself and made quite a number of “one-off” guns for his own collection. It is quite likely that such is the case with this unique revolving rifle. The matching serial number is marked on the heel of the butt faintly,
on the rear face of the cylinder, on the bottom of the barrel latch, and rear face of the barrel lug. The “4.52” factory return date is marked on the left of the grip frame. It is fitted with a blued blade front sight, notch rear sight on
top of the barrel latch, a checkered hard rubber forearm in a length much shorter than the standard type usually found on this model and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Smith & Wesson monograms at the tops. The
forearm and the grips are the mottled red and black hard rubber that are unique to the Revolving Rifle model. Includes the correct walnut shoulder stock with blued attaching iron and a black checkered hard rubber buttplate with
Smith & Wesson monogram at the center.
CONDITION: Very fine as factory refurbished, retaining 99% of the blue finish and 90% of the vibrant case colors on trigger guard and hammer with a few scattered very light handling marks and a light cylinder drag line. The
forearm and grips are very fine with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. The stock is also very fine with 98% plus of the factory blue finish and a few scattered light handling marks on the wood. Mechanically
excellent. A very attractive and highly desirable Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle with a custom short barrel!
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 1090
E. Remington & Sons “Improved” New Model Revolving Cartridge Conversion Rifle - Serial no. 503, 38 RF cal., 26 inch octagon bbl.,
blue/casehardened/nickel finish, walnut stock. Less than 1,000 of these revolving rifles were estimated to have been manufactured c. 1866-
1879 per Flayderman’s Guide. The factory conversions to rimfire would have been towards the latter years of that range. This example is number “503”
and has the matching serial number on the bottom of the barrel ahead of the loading lever and on the removable breech plate. The breech plate and
back of the cylinder also have the conversion/assembly number “250.” The barrel has a golden Beach combination front sight and an elevation adjustable sporting
rear sight. The upper tang is also fitted with a peep sight. The barrel and cylinder are blued. The loading lever and frame are casehardened, and the trigger guard and
buttplate are nickel plated.
CONDITION: Fine with 20% original blue finish, 70% original case colors, traces of original nickel plating, and mostly smooth gray and brown patina on the balance. The
stock is also fine and has smooth oiled finish, some cracks in the toe, and minor marks and scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
Collector’s Fact
According to "Standard
Catalog of Smith & Wesson"
by Supica and Nahas, only
977 Smith & Wesson Model
320 Revolving Rifles were
manufactured.
90