Smith & Wesson .320 Revolving Rifle

[Shotgun Steve]

Only 977 were manufactured between 1879 and 1887, and the model was dropped from the catalogue by 1890. Essentially, the frame was identical to that of the standard model, except for the hammer that featured an adjustable fly to allow changes in trigger point engagement in order to adjust the weight of the trigger pull. It was made in the .320 S&W caliber only.

The gun was available in blue or nickel finish, with barrel lengths of 16", 18" or 20".

Each gun was equipped with a red hard rubber forearm and grips. The shoulder stock was made of walnut and had a black hard rubber butt plate.

All of the stocks featured a screw hole in the wrist to allow mounting of a peep sight. The front side could also be replaced by an optional globe sight that had a set of cross hairs.

The barrel is made in two pieces.

This gun was not very popular. By April, 1880, only 960 had been manufactured, of which 76 nickel finished and the rest were blued. Between 1880 and 1887, only 17 additional Revolving Rifles were manufactured.

[Books OToole]

When Jim Supica did his talk at the '08 convention, he had one to look at and fondel.  Along with at least one example of every "model three" Smith & Wesson.  It was really cool.

Books

[Trap]

  What exactly is/was the composition of those pre-plastic grips. The red ones are unique for sure and seem more like a more modern plastic. The only other guns I've seen them on were small frame double actions.

[Shotgun Steve]

Trap it says  "Each gun was equipped with a red hard rubber forearm and grips. The shoulder stock was made of walnut and had a black hard rubber butt plate."

[Books OToole]

  What exactly is/was the composition of those pre-plastic grips. The red ones are unique for sure and seem more like a more modern plastic. The only other guns I've seen them on were small frame double actions.

I don't know the chemical make up of the old plastic/guta percha as compared to the modern plastics.

However the red-mottled grips show up on different S & W modles as ealy as the 1880s.*

Books



* Im' not an espert; but I read his book.