This fully documented historic Smith & Wesson Model 320 revolving rifle served as a cartridge test model for the Winchester factory and was also once part of the Winchester Museum collection. In the included letter from the Cody Firearms Museum, Curator Cameron Laughlin states that the original factory museum catalog card confirmed that this Model 320 without a serial number is chambered for the .320 S&W rifle cartridge, has a 16 inch barrel with a 1 13/26 inch cylinder and was from the Winchester ballistic lab with the date 2-1-49. Laughlin concludes that the 2-1-29 "date refers to the date of transfer of this arm from the WRA ballistics laboratories--in which it was likely used for ammunition testing--to the factory museum. The piece remained in Winchester Museum collection until, perhaps, the 1960's. A more specific date of sale or transfer from Winchester is unknown, but the rifle was not present in the factory collections transferred to this institution in 1976." He also states that the trigger guard tag numbered 1914 on this rifle is from the Winchester Museum. A letter from noted S&W historian and author Robert J. Neal also confirms the historical significance of this firearm: "I have no doubt that this rifle is indeed the one mentioned on page 96 of the revised edition of the book 'Smith & Wesson 1857-1945' written by myself and Roy Jinks." The included S&W factory letter states "there are no records in Smith & Wesson's files for this rifle, the documentation you have from the Cody Firearms Museum is better than anything we can provide." In this letter noted S&W historian and author Roy Jinks concludes that this Model 320 was an early production firearm. Finally, a letter for the late noted firearms expert and author Norm Flayderman provides the details regarding the ownership of the firearm. Flayderman states that in December 1975 he was "the successful bidder for a lot of 'Surplus' (so-called) material put up for sale by the Winchester Museum" before its move to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Flayderman later sold the gun in his Catalog No. 102 in October 1978. The revolving rifle has a blade front sight and a two leaf folding rear sight on a solid rib marked with the two line S&W address/patent date marking. The top strap is script engraved with the Winchester factory marking: "W.R.A. Co." The rifle appears to have been left in the white with a casehardened hammer and trigger guard. As stated there are no serial numbers present. The barrel is fitted with a checkered hard rubber red mottled forearm with the S&W monogram on the underside and the frame is fitted with checkered diamond pattern walnut grips. The Circassian walnut stock features a checkered hard rubber buttplate with the S&W monogram. With a brass tipped wooden cleaning rod. Note that this Model 320 has a 16 inch barrel. It has been estimated that 239 Model 320s were manufactured with a 16 inch barrel, making it an even rarer example of a S&W manufactured firearm.

Very good. The revolving rifle has a correct, factory in-the-white, unfinished mottled appearance. The cylinder differs from the balance of gun in that it is polished. The hammer and trigger guard retain some original case colors. The forearm has a large chip missing at the rear, otherwise crisp checkering overall. The grips are fair with a large chip missing near the bottom (left), a number of pressure dents on the bottom and some bruising in the checkering. The stock is fine with some minor handling marks and traces of original blue finish remaining on the attaching iron. Mechanically fine. Overall an extensively documented Winchester factory cartridge test model Smith & Wesson Model 320 revolving rifle that would make a perfect addition to even the most advanced S&W or Winchester collection.