Chasing a piece of history

[jnyork]

I just finished reading a copy of "The Indian War of 1864" written by Captain Eugene F. Ware, first published in 1911 and reprinted in the 1960s by Bison Books.

This person fought in several battles of the Civil War and was then assigned duties as a Cavalry officer guarding the Immigrant trail across Nebraska and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. He served there from early 1864 until after the end of the war.

In his several Indian fights, he describes using, to good effect, his "very fine Smith and Wesson target rifle". He uses this exact phrase several times.

I can find no mention of such a rifle in any of my reference books. Yet the author is very specific about describing it.

Any ideas?

[jeepnik]

Probably referring to the model 320 revolving rifle.

[Bill in Oregon]

Might have been one of the Wesson rifles.

https://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-gall ... rifle.aspx

[jnyork]

I think Bill In Oregon is on the right track, the Smith and Wesson 320 wasn't produced until 1870 according to my books. Writing 45 years after the events in the book, the author might very well have remembered "Smith and Wesson" for "Wesson". In those days, it was common for factories to make up a special order rifle to the buyers' specifications and this may be the case here. Sadly, we will never know for sure.

[Grizz]

is this the piece in question?

.

S&W 320.jpg

.
.

[765x53]

Considering the time period, he may have been referring to his Smith carbine. A later editor, having little knowledge of firearms, would have added the Wesson and maybe even the "target rifle". Or, it could have been a Frank Wesson rifle with the "Smith" added by a later editor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdzMJI3PPlQ

[jnyork]

Considering the time period, he may have been referring to his Smith carbine. A later editor, having little knowledge of firearms, would have added the Wesson and maybe even the "target rifle". Or, it could have been a Frank Wesson rifle with the "Smith" added by a later editor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdzMJI3PPlQ

His unit, 7th Iowa Cavalry, was initially issued the Gallager carbine, none of the soldiers including the writer had anything good to say about them, they were next to useless. Later they were issued the Smith carbines, which did much better. According to the writer, his "very fine target rifle" was not a Smith carbine, I believe it was a Wesson and the word "Smith" was indeed added many years later.,

Grizz, what rifle is that, got any info?


PS, here is a history of the author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Fitch_Ware

[Grizz]

Considering the time period, he may have been referring to his Smith carbine. A later editor, having little knowledge of firearms, would have added the Wesson and maybe even the "target rifle". Or, it could have been a Frank Wesson rifle with the "Smith" added by a later editor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdzMJI3PPlQ

His unit, 7th Iowa Cavalry, was initially issued the Gallager carbine, none of the soldiers including the writer had anything good to say about them, they were next to useless. Later they were issued the Smith carbines, which did much better. According to the writer, his "very fine target rifle" was not a Smith carbine, I believe it was a Wesson and the word "Smith" was indeed added many years later.,

Grizz, what rifle is that, got any info?


PS, here is a history of the author: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Fitch_Ware

i searched for Smith&Wesson 320 and a bunch of photos showed up.

"smith & wesson model 320"

[marlinman93]

is this the piece in question?

.
S&W 320.jpg
.
.

No, likely a Frank Wesson, not S&W revolving rifle.

[Grizz]

is this the piece in question?

.
S&W 320.jpg
.
.

No, likely a Frank Wesson, not S&W revolving rifle.

Thanks very much, glad to be able to follow the discussion. :)