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.