This Smith & Wesson 2nd Model 1891 Single Shot Pistol was used by J.H. Snook of Columbus, Ohio, to win a gold medal in the 1912 Olympic Games held in Stockholm, Sweden. Snook was one of the foremost pistol shooters in the United States; in 1913 he was a member of the victorious U.S. pistol team at the Pan American Championship held at Camp Perry, Ohio. J.H. Snook was a professor of veterinary medicine at Ohio State University. In June 1929, Snook confessed to the murder of Theora Hix; a student at Ohio State. Snook was executed for the Hix murder on February 28, 1930. The Smith & Wesson Model 1891 single shot pistol is engraved: "J.H. SNOOK/WORLDS CHAMPION" on the left side of the frame. Between those is engraved: "ELECTROCUTED/Feb.-28-1930". The second inscription was added by a collector who purchased the pistol from Snook's wife shortly after the execution. The pistol has the Smith & Wesson commercial blue finish with casehardened, hammer, trigger guard and trigger. The two piece grip is walnut with checkered panels and inlaid S&W medallions. The pistol has an adjustable target rear sight and finely checkered hammer spur. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped: "+22 LONG RIFLE CTG+" in one line and the top of the barrel rib is marked: "+SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A+". The pistol has several modifications apparently made by Snook when the pistol was used in competition. The barrel has been shortened from 10-inches to 9-inches and the barrel rib has been fitted with a wide Patridge front sight. A steel spacer has been fitted between the grip strap and the trigger guard. Finally, the forward half of the walnut grip has been shortened to provide a finger rest. Included with the pistol is an extra 10-inch barrel. The barrel has a blue finish and is fitted with a Patridge front sight and adjustable rear sight. The right side of the barrel is roll-stamped: "SMITH & WESSON". The top of the rib is marked: "+SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A/PATENTED OCT.8.01.FEB.8.08.SEPT.14.09.+" in two lines. Documentation with the pistol indicated that this barrel may have been hand-lapped for J.H. Snook by S&W. The pistol and extra barrel are in an oak case that was made for the pistol by the collector who added the second engraved inscription. The case is complete with a steel cleaning rod with brass handle. Included with the pistol is extensive documentation that relates to Snook's career as a champion shooter and his subsequent arrest and conviction for the murder of Theora Hix. The material includes photo copies of Columbus, Ohio, newspapers, a pamphlet entitled "THE MURDER OF THEORA HIX, and numerous other documents that describe the Hix murder or Snook's success as a champion shooter.

Very good. The pistol has 40% of the original blue finish and shows the wear expected on a competition firearm. The grips have moderate handling wear. The bore is bright. The two inscriptions on the left side of the frame are crisp. Removal of the auxiliary trigger guard reveals a partial serial number "81" which corresponds to the barrel number "2816". The pistol functions fine. The extra replacement barrel retains 95% of the original blue finish and is in excellent condition with a bright bore. The case is in excellent condition. This is an interesting example of a pistol used to win an Olympic gold medal with unusual inscription. The pistol has documentation that dates from the 1940s. This is a unique Olympic firearm.