Smith & Wesson Model 1913 Automatic Pistols

Published on June 9, 2016
Duration: 17:45

The Smith & Wesson Model 1913 was an early American semi-automatic pistol developed by Joe Wesson, influenced by Charles Clement's designs. It featured a proprietary .35 S&W cartridge with a unique 'half-mantle' bullet for barrel preservation. Later, a simplified Model 1924 version was produced in .32 ACP with a conventional reciprocating slide. Both models had distinct safety mechanisms, including a grip safety and an unusual manual wheel safety on early 1913 models.

Quick Summary

The Smith & Wesson Model 1913 was an early American semi-automatic pistol developed by Joe Wesson, based on Charles Clement's patents. It uniquely used a proprietary .35 S&W cartridge with a lead bullet to preserve barrel life, featuring a 'half-mantle' design and distinctive safety mechanisms.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to S&W Model 1913
  2. 01:15Charles Clement Influence & Design Basis
  3. 01:54The Proprietary .35 S&W Cartridge
  4. 05:23Production Challenges & Market Failure
  5. 08:05Early Model Mechanical Features
  6. 10:00Safety Mechanisms Explained
  7. 13:581924 Simplified Model Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the S&W Model 1913 pistol based on?

The S&W Model 1913 was based on patents licensed from Charles Clement in Belgium, whom Joe Wesson met in 1909. This formed the foundation for S&W's early semi-automatic pistol design.

Why did Smith & Wesson use the .35 S&W cartridge in the Model 1913?

S&W developed the proprietary .35 S&W cartridge to utilize a lead bullet, aiming to preserve barrel life. This differed from the common .32 ACP and featured a 'half-mantle' design.

What were the unique safety features of the early S&W Model 1913?

Early Model 1913 pistols had a front-mounted grip safety operated by the middle finger and an unusual manual 'wheel' safety located on the backstrap, requiring rotation to switch between safe and fire.

How did the S&W Model 1924 differ from the Model 1913?

The Model 1924 simplified the design, adopting a standard reciprocating slide like the Browning 1900, and chambered the pistol in the more common .32 ACP caliber. It retained the grip safety but omitted the wheel safety.

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