Customer Reviews

Smith and Wesson Six Guns of the Old West

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4 star:		(2)
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I really enjoyed this book. Dave writes in a straight-ahead, clear style derived from his many years as a gunsmith. Basically he writes with the same care and precision he uses in his repairs and restorations, which are works of art. The photos and drawings (many of the latter by his son) are all well done and to the point of the text. The volume itself is expertly printed and bound and is sure to last.

If you are researching, repairing or are just curious about one of the S&W six guns that Dave covers you will find all you need to know in this volume. His histories of the development of the various models are entertaining, as well as useful to the researcher. The repair text and illustrations are step-by-step. If you run into problems (like a stuck screw), he covers how to deal with that. If you just like a good read about some of the under-appreciated but significant firearm designs and the people who used them in the old west, then get this book.

My criteria for the importance of a tome like this is how greasy it gets as I consult it at my workbench while in the middle of a repair or maybe just exploring one of the antiques detailed in its pages. In Dave's case my copy of his first book (Gunsmithing Guns of the Old West) is well stained. I expect this equally useful second book will also grow very grimy in proportion to its usefulness.

As a collector of all 19th century Smith & Wesson firearms, one of the things that has always surprised me is the lack of available information relating to one of the most well known and most common of all of the so-called western guns, the Model Three. Predating the better known 1873 Colt SA by three years, built in far larger numbers and many more interesting variations, where are the Model Three books? Rattling around in the head of well-known gunsmith/author David Chicoine apparently.

Well it's finally here; the definitive tome of the Smith & Wesson Model Three. All those Americans, Russians, Scofields and New Models have finally been recognized for their importance in the most incredible volume imaginable. Was it worth the wait? It most certainly was.

Here in a single large volume is a very comprehensive history of the Model Three going back to the Robbins & Lawrence factory where we are reasonably certain Daniel Smith met Horace Wesson around 1850. It tracks their progress through their first company, where they invented what became the Winchester 13 years later, the development of the first practical cartridge firearms (the S&W Model One) through the Two's, One and a Half's, and finally the Model Threes. It's all here in a comprehensive entertaining manner accompanied by fabulous photographs and diagrams.

This book is also a gunsmith's dream with page after page of carefully written and illustrated information on how to diagnose and repair every Model Three AND every modern Model Three copy. In addition there are chapters on ammunition and, for the shooter, loading and reloading. Did I say comprehensive? Well written? Beautifully illustrated? Awesome? A long over due and welcomed volume. Thanks David.

If you are a gun collector, a gun enthusiast, a gunfighter history buff, or simply interested in the artifacts of the Old West then you need to own "Smith and Wesson: Sixguns of the Old West." If there were such a thing as a definitive work, then this volume is the ONE. The book covers the Schofields, the Americans, the Russians, the New Models No. 3 and much more. Even esoteric, but interesting subjects such as ammunition, gun tools, and the history of gun metal finishes are covered in this full scope book.
David R. Chicoine, the author, is a gunsmith and a recognized expert for restoration and repair of Smith and Wesson firearms. In this, his latest book, he has produced a beautiful,lavish tome full of useful photographs and illustrations, and it worth every penny that the publisher charges.

Everything I've been looking for, all the originals and all the repros, described and compared. What's right and what's wrong and how to fix it, care for it and even how to make some of the parts! I have originals and repros, I shoot them and tune them as needed, and this book fills the bill. One of the most valuable books I own.

This is one GREAT BOOK on the Smith & Wesson Big caliber revolvers of the Old West,long needed in the fields of lovers of the Old West,Cowboy Action Shooters,Old West Historians, Smith & Wesson collectors, gunsmiths,and firearms collectors,it also offers a wonderful in depth coverage of the company itself and the times, much of it never presented before.

Dave Chicoines credentials to experience in this field are un-matched by any other, as firearms affectionado's well know.His writing style is clearcut so novice or long time buffs can both
get the most out of it,the photo and illustrations top notch,plus he covers the modern clones of these same famous revolvers.

Move over Colt, Daves book is going to be a "MUST HAVE" that will be the standard by which others will try to reach and put S&W revolvers in their proper place in Old West History, largely ignored until now.

A really great book !

I recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in early model S&W pistols. Almost every detail I can think of is covered in this book from differences in models, parts illustrations and different options available on each model. Plus a great background history on them and lots of pictures.

I've never been big on following the crowd, and when I finally invested in a Single Action revolver with the intent of participating in SASS events I shied away from the well known movie standard of the Colt Peacemaker.

My Schofield top- break Model 3 is the perfect "fun" pistol for someone with only one fully-functional arm like myself, Having been used by Cavalry for the ease of loading while controlling a Horse.

My father picked this gem of a book up for me... Exploded views, load data, gunsmithing instructions, and a well written history of the Top break, Smith and Wesson, and the evolution of firearms from the Volcanic pistol, and the effects of the expiration of the Rollin White patent on their competitors.

If you love top breaks... you need this book.

Nice book. Lot of information about older S&W revolvers. Belongs to every S&W collector's bookshelf.