CHAPTER III.
AMERICAN REVOLVERS—SMITH & WESSON’S PRODUCTIONS.
The armory of Messrs. Smith & Wesson is located at Springfield, Mass., and is said to be the most complete establishment for the manufacture of revolvers in the world. The work produced at this armory has a world-wide reputation, and their products are sent to nearly every country on the globe. The revolvers are beautifully made, as perfect as it seems possible to construct them; they have a perfect contour, are symmetrical, well balanced, and possess great accuracy. The arm was formerly constructed in calibres from .22 to .45; but, a few years ago, this firm discontinued making the .22 calibre. Formerly the .22 and .32 calibres were opened by pressing a clutch under the action, and the barrel and cylinder were pushed upwards; the cylinder was then removed, and the shell extracted from the cylinder by a fixed post. Later the invention of the automatic shell-ejector was added, and the revolver opened by a clasp, the barrel and cylinders tip downward, the action at the same time ejecting the shells. All of the revolvers now made at the factory of Smith & Wesson are after this model, and are known as follows:—
New Model Army, No. 3: weight, 2½ pounds; central fire; calibre .44; six shot; length of barrel, 6½ inches.
New Model Navy, No. 3: double action, central fire; calibre .44; six shot; weight, 23⁄16 pounds; length of barrel, 4, 5 and 6 inches.
New Model 38, No. 2: weight, 16 ounces; central fire; calibre .38; five shot; length of barrel, 3¼, 4, and 5 inches.
New Model 38, No. 2: double action; central fire; calibre .38; five shot; weight, 18 ounces; length of barrel, 3¼, 4, and 5 inches.
New Model 32, No. 1½: weight, 12½ ounces; central fire; calibre .32; five shot; length of barrel, 3 and 3½ inches.
New Model 32, No. 1½: double action; central fire; calibre .32; five shot; weight, 14 ounces; length of barrel, 3 and 3½ inches.