POTD: Top Break turned Break Action – Smith & Wesson 320
Sam.S 07.26.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a really cool special order sort of rifle. This is the Smith & Wesson 320 Revolving Rifle. The Smith & Wesson Model 320 revolving rifle, produced between 1879 and 1887, was an attempt to adapt the revolver cylinder design to a rifle platform. However, this proved problematic in practice – when fired, the cylinder would spew burning gunpowder particles out the sides into the shooter’s forearm, making it unpleasant and dangerous to shoot. Only around 977 were ever manufactured, with 840 sold in the United States and 137 exported overseas. With barrel lengths available in 16, 18, and 20 inches, the Model 320 used a top break frame and .32 caliber cartridges, representing an improvement over previous revolving rifle designs like the Colt which were still cap and ball. However, the fundamental issue of the cylinder spraying hot gas and powder into the shooter’s arm when fired meant that the Model 320 never gained popularity and had limited production.
“Manufactured from 1879 to 1887, the Model 320 revolving rifle is one of the rarest Smith & Wesson firearms produced with a total production of 977. These firearms were serial numbered from 1 to 977 and out of the 977 manufactured, 514 had the 18 inch barrel. This Model 320 was manufactured using the frame, cylinder and basic action of the New Model No. 3 revolver with some minor differences in the hammer and trigger, with the barrel being made of two pieces. A slot is cut into the butt and a hole drilled in the back strap to accommodate the shoulder stock. The rifle features an 18 inch barrel with a two leaf folding rear sight (without a front sight). The top of the rib is marked with the two-line address/patent dates. The matching serial number appears on the butt, cylinder, barrel and barrel latch. Blue finish with casehardened hammer and trigger guard. The barrel is fitted with a checkered hard rubber red mottled forearm with the S&W monogram on the underside. The grips are matching with S&W monograms in a circle at the tops. The stock is smooth walnut with blue finished attaching iron and a checkered black hard rubber buttplate with S&W monogram. The stock tang has an original peep sight.”
Lot 177: Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle with Stock. (n.d.-f). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved July 26, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/77/177/smith-wesson-model-320-revolving-rifle-with-stock.
