The following information comes from Smith & Wesson Hand Guns by Roy C. McHenry and Walter F. Roper. Smith & Wesson Hand Guns is also available to purchase in print.
MODEL No. 1—First Model
22 Caliber, Rim fire cartridge. Patented April 3, 1855; July 5, 1859; December 18, 1860. Manufactured from November 1857 to 1860.
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Frame—Square butt, made of brass nickel plated, with round side plate.
Barrel—Octagon shape, made of steel 3 3/16″ long, jointed to frame at top strap, blue finish.
Cylinder—Seven chambers, not grooved.
Hammer—Jointed thumb piece to operate cylinder stop.
Stock—Plain wood, piano finish.
MODEL No. 1—Second Model
22 Caliber, Rim fire cartridge. Manufactured from 1860 to 1868. Design as First Model with the following change:
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Frame—Made of steel with irregular shape side plate.
Hammer—Solid thumb piece with lug on top to operate split spring stop.
126,430 of First and Second Models manufactured.
MODEL No. 1—Third Model
22 Caliber, Rim fire cartridge. 128,528 manufactured from February 1868 to 1879.
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Frame—Round butt made of steel irregular shape side plate finished in blue or nickel plate.
Barrel—Round body with ribbed top of steel 3″ long jointed to frame at top strap, finished in blue or nickel.
Hammer—Solid thumb piece with lug on top to operate split spring stop.
Stock—Rosewood, piano finish.
MODEL SINGLE SHOT—First Model
22 Caliber, long rifle cartridge. 3,198 manufactured from May 1893 to 1905. These were numbered with the 38 single action revolvers. Made as an interchangeable combination revolver and Single Shot Target Pistol.
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Frame—38 Single action round butt.
Barrel—Round body with ribbed top jointed to frame at bottom strap forward of guard latching to frame at bolster interlocking frame post with jointed barrel catch. Made in 6″, 8″, 10″ length for 22 caliber long rifle. 32 caliber S&W regular or gallery. 38 caliber S&W regular or gallery cartridges.
Hammer—Flanged thumb piece with solid nose.
Stock—Hard rubber, square butt, extended length.
Barrel Catch—Target, adjustable for windage or elevation.
MODEL SINGLE SHOT—Second Model
22 caliber long rifle cartridge. 4,617 manufactured from 1905 to 1909. These were made as Single Shot pistols only, not as combination. Designed as First Model with these following changes:
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Frame—38 Single Action without hand and stop slots bolster flanges removed and relief grooves cut in sides.
Barrel Catch—The windage adjustment screws were made to adjust from sides of catch against round body of leaf.
MODEL SINGLE SHOT—Third Model
22 Caliber long rifle cartridge. This model catalogued as “Perfected Target Pistol.” Manufactured starting with No. 4,618. December 1909 to date.
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Frame—Modeled from the 38 Double Action Perfected revolver for Single Shot purpose only. Having solid guard with lock work cuts made to use the 32 caliber Hand Ejector (Model of 1903) parts.
Barrel—The same design and lengths of barrels as used in the First and Second model excepting changed barrel catch cam cut made in strap without the inserted shim. Bottom strap made flat instead of circle cut with relief groove in surface.
Hammer—Regular 32 caliber Hand Ejector with square end nose throw, adjusted to position for rim fire cartridge impact.
Stock—Walnut, checked, square butt target extended length.
Barrel Catch—Target sight leaf, adjusted for windage and elevation.
MODEL M HAND EJECTOR—First Model
22 Caliber rim fire cartridges, 22 short, 22 long, 22 long rifle (First Model). No. 1 to No. 4,575. Manufactured from February, 1902.
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Frame—Side swing yoke, hand ejector, round butt, irregular shape side plate.
Barrel—Tapered, round body, solid, front sight made in 2 1/4″, 3″, 3 1/2″ lengths. Threaded to screw to frame.
Cylinder—7 Chambers, grooved. Solid gas ring.
Hammer—Flanged finger piece with spring insert to operate stop.
Trigger Spring—Leaf side acting thru hand recovering trigger, operating rebound catch.
Rebound Catch—Jointed to hammer, operating between Frame and Hammer.
Frame Bolt—Operated by round button shaped thumb piece to unlock cylinder from frame rear end.
Stock—Round butt, hard rubber.
Trigger—Flanged finger piece with spring insert to operate stop.
MODEL M HAND EJECTOR—Second Model
22 Caliber, rim fire cartridges, 22 short, 22 long, 22 long rifle. No. 4,576 to No. 13,950. Manufactured August, 1906.
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Designed as First Model with the following changes:
Frame—Without bolt for rear end cylinder lock.
Barrel—With locking bolt in lug with knob to draw bolt from extractor rod, at front end, also relieving center pin spring allowing it to withdraw from center pin bushing, thereby unlocking rear end. Made in 3″ and 3 1/2″ lengths only.
MODEL M HAND EJECTOR—Third Model
22 Caliber, rim fire cartridge, 22 short, 22 long, 22 long rifle. Catalogued as 22 Perfected Hand Ejector. No. 12,951 to No. 26,154. Manufactured May, 1911.
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Frame—Square butt, without bolt, made regular and target with sight leaf and slide adjusted for windage and elevation.
Cylinder—7 Chambers, grooved, solid gas ring, elongated stop slots, extractor dowel pin.
Barrel—Tapered, round body, solid front sight with front locking bolt.
Hammer—Flanged thumb piece, chafing pins, full double action throw-seat for rebound slide.
Trigger—Flanged finger piece, for Hand and trigger levers. Notched for full throw action double
Rebound Slide—Rebounding and blocking hammer, incasing coil trigger spring.
Stop—Elongated stud slot to allow trigger to catch in recovery, held in normal position with coil wire stop spring.
Stock—Plain walnut, piano finish with gold monograms.
MODEL 22/32 HAND EJECTOR
22 Caliber, rim fire cartridge, 22 short, 22 long, 22 long rifle. Catalogued as 22/32 Heavy Frame Target Revolver. Manufactured from June, 1911 to date. These revolvers were numbered in with the 32 caliber Hand Ejector model of 1903.
DETAIL OF DESIGN
Frame—Modeled from 32 caliber Hand Ejector model of 1903. Made as Target Revolver only. Cut for target sight leaf. Hammer face cut parallel to bolster allowing space for firing pin bushing insert—located to strike rim fire cartridges on top. Tang cut near butt to make shoulder for extended square butt wood stocks. Finished in blue only.
Barrel—Tapered round body target front sight, front locking bolt lug. Made in the 6″ lengths only.
Cylinder—Six chambers, grooved, inserted gas ring, extractor dowel pins.
Hammer—Straight sides, flat face, without nose.
Stock—Checked walnut. Square butt, extended length or 22 Single Shot Perfected Model Target stocks.
Sight Leaf—First 1,000 required slide with round body or bead for flat face adjusting windage screw. Second model changed to flat slide dovetail shape lug for pointed adjusting windage screw. First model elevating screw split and screwed into frame. Second model elevating screw flanged head screwed into leaf T slot in frame to receive head.
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