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Handguns / Re: Smith & Wesson Model 1
« Last post by Hanshi on Today at 02:47:15 PM »If I understand this correctly both pistols are number "1" models. Your restoration job looks good to me and must have tried your patience at some point. As for the magnum (Ahem!) BP charge of 4 grains, I believe I may have some idea about the actual self defense expectations of that era.
The powder used was likely a very high grade as the velocities from CW handguns exceeded what we usually get from our repros. Maybe something like Swiss? And no one wants to get shot, even just a little bit. I'd be surprised if the usual target for these tiny pistols was anything other than somewhere around the head at handshake distance or less. Another thing is that infection was a common result of nonfatal hits.
I would be very interested finding out the chronographed velocities of those cartridges. The results "could" be surprising. Years ago I took squirrels with CB caps that were powered only by the prime in the case.
Now that I've added nothing to this discussion remotely related to your post, I'll just ask to be sure, "what information exactly were you hoping for. Also the fact that you know who this post comes from goes a long way to explaining the "WHY" of this response.
The powder used was likely a very high grade as the velocities from CW handguns exceeded what we usually get from our repros. Maybe something like Swiss? And no one wants to get shot, even just a little bit. I'd be surprised if the usual target for these tiny pistols was anything other than somewhere around the head at handshake distance or less. Another thing is that infection was a common result of nonfatal hits.
I would be very interested finding out the chronographed velocities of those cartridges. The results "could" be surprising. Years ago I took squirrels with CB caps that were powered only by the prime in the case.
Now that I've added nothing to this discussion remotely related to your post, I'll just ask to be sure, "what information exactly were you hoping for. Also the fact that you know who this post comes from goes a long way to explaining the "WHY" of this response.