Meriden Revolver

[Colt Fanning]

Howdy,
I have recently found a S&W Clone Stamped Meriden.  I understand that these were made from 1905 to 1916 for
Sears and others.  It is 38 S&W and looks to be more than a 4 in barrel.  It is cheap.  Does anyone know if it is Ncows legal
as a main match revolver?
Regards
Colt

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Colt go here,  http://www.ncows.org/rules.html if it is not listed in the approved pistols I would say it is too late for our time period.

Bill

[Pancho Peacemaker]

Colt,

I did a little digging on this brand after you and I spoke on Saturday.

The literature I've found on these are as you describe:  1905 and later manufacture.

I've not handled a Meriden, but in references, they appear in very close resemblence to the S&W New Departure and the S&W Pocket DA revolvers (almost exact copies externally from the references I've found.)  Very much like the pocket guns that Iver Johnson and a number of others made during the time.

If they were proven to be a direct & complete copy of the earlier S&W designs, you might have an argument as a reproduction firearm, but Meriden does have unique patents for some of their parts.  The patents are all issued after 1905 which falls out of our time frame.  In my eyes, unique patents = unique firearm.

All the same, I am a big fan of this class of little guns.  please bring it next time you are at the club.  I usually test fire pocket guns after the main match is over.

Pancho

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I'd never seen or heard of Meriden firearms before Colt F's post, but they sure DO resemble the old top-break revolvers from Smith & Wesson, Iver Johnson, etc.

Without a ruling from the Authenticity Committee, and adhering to our posted rules these little gems might not be legal for serious NCOWS competition, but if a member (or guest) showed up at one of our matches and wanted to use one as a Pocket Pistol, I doubt I'd even hesitate to say OK to its use!  Looks like a pretty durn good "reproduction" of a pre-1900 NCOWS-legal gun, but made in the 20th Century.  The only thing my "non-expert of old firearms" eyes could see is the shape of the front sight blade.

[Colt Fanning]

Howdy,
After looking at the revolver closely I found that it is a five shooter with a 6 in. barrel.  Not suitable for any NCOWS category.

Regards
Colt

[Steel Horse Bailey]

Howdy,
After looking at the revolver closely I found that it is a five shooter with a 6 in. barrel.  Not suitable for any NCOWS category.

Regards
Colt

Nay, nay, Colt.

I certainly can be used (if the dating and caliber allows) as a main-match revolver.  It probably doesn't have safety notches like some C&B guns, and lowering the hammer between chambers may not be an option, but if you are willing to load one round at the firing line on the clock, it can be used.  (Load 4 @ loading table, then at the line when the timer beeps, open it and insert the 5th round)  But, it has to pass the date test from the Authenticity committee.  There IS a Colt pocket-type pistol that has post 1900 dates on it (I forget the exact model) but it IS legal because it was decided that it is simply a newer dated version of a Colt designed and fielded before 1900 with no differences except possibly metallurgy and the afore-mentioned date.

I've used my Iver Johnson top-break, circa 1883 version as a main match gun.  It's in 38 S&W.  It was a lot of fun to shoot and was fun to watch the old relic puff out BP smoke and (some) flames.  It won't win any power contests, but it certainly rang steel very satisfactorily.