H.m.pope barrel on smith&wesson pistol need help on value
- Thread starter Vidd
- Start date
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
There were 4 series of top-break single-shot pistols made by S&W between 1891 and 1936. There were a number of counterfeiters of these examples as well. The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson has information about this series, pp. 123-127. If genuine, these can have decent value and are worth the purchase of the Catalog just to get the best ID on the example you have.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I spent the day looking for information on this type of work by Pope. First, schutzen was losing popularity in the US and 22 LR shooting was just rising with smokeless powder. Two, Pope was a business man and would make about anything you wanted for enough money. Third the stamp looks correct for Pope work.
Look closely to see if Pope relined the barrel with one of his liners. Also check the rifling style, as Pope's is much different for S&W's.
The documents allude that this was a "one off" maybe for testing ammo? or a sponsored shooter? or?
Worth? What a willing buyer and a willing seller think is fair. A Pope collector may pay you 200% of what an equal refinished Perfected would bring; a S&W collector would pay 75% as a refinished oddity.
FWIW, Ric
Look closely to see if Pope relined the barrel with one of his liners. Also check the rifling style, as Pope's is much different for S&W's.
The documents allude that this was a "one off" maybe for testing ammo? or a sponsored shooter? or?
Worth? What a willing buyer and a willing seller think is fair. A Pope collector may pay you 200% of what an equal refinished Perfected would bring; a S&W collector would pay 75% as a refinished oddity.
FWIW, Ric
Dad said eight lan;s left hand twist does that mean Pope barrel
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
I don't know a thing about Pope's barrels.
I'm thinking that a 1912 manufacture date might limit that arm to firing "standard velocity" 22 LR ammo, if firing is a consideration. That stuff is marketed as "Sub-Sonic" these days, and some of it is SUPERBLY accurate. I have never handled one of these examples, but their written descriptions and photos have always intrigued me. I am not sure what market niche these pistols were meant to occupy, but their utility as a small game field arm is obvious to me.
I'm thinking that a 1912 manufacture date might limit that arm to firing "standard velocity" 22 LR ammo, if firing is a consideration. That stuff is marketed as "Sub-Sonic" these days, and some of it is SUPERBLY accurate. I have never handled one of these examples, but their written descriptions and photos have always intrigued me. I am not sure what market niche these pistols were meant to occupy, but their utility as a small game field arm is obvious to me.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
First of all, it was made 25 years before "Hi-Speed" 22 LR was invented, so that is a no no. They were made for "stand up on your hind legs and shoot like a man" pistol matches. That was very popular shooting and matches often had $1000 first prizes, paid in gold coin. The earliest one were made on the 38 S&W top break frame, and you could buy a set with a 4 inch revolver and a 22LR barrel all in a case. I passed up a set like that in about 1975 because I didn't have the $300 he was asking for it. The later ones, like pictured were single shot barrel only.