Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a Smith & Wesson Pinto. The Pinto revolvers (and autos) were a cool matter of efficiency and necessity. They are not factory gun in the sense that it was something that was cataloged. The name “Pinto” is a name given by the community at large describing its change in colors. You see, these guns were a mishmash of parts from leftover projects and production runs. The company may have run a series of nickel/stainless guns, and then switched to blue, but still had certain nickel/stainless components left over. Smith and Wesson offers production letters if someone was curious about their particular “Pinto“ gun. Today, in a sense, Smith & Wesson still makes pinto Guns, but they are full-time production in Guns. A notable example would be some of their scandium revolvers. This may be a finishing thing but it definitely carries on a legacy of sorts.
“Built on Smith & Wesson’s J frame and manufactured from 1952-1972. Standard “Airweight” markings on the barrel and frame. Fixed front ramp sight. The barrel, cylinder, thumb piece and grip safety are nickel plated. The frame is blue and the trigger is casehardened. Smooth oiled walnut grips with S&W medallions. Complete with the original blue two piece box numbered to the revolver and lists the two-tone finish as a special feature on the end label. Also accompanied by original cleaning tool and literature.”
Lot 3722: Smith & Wesson 42 Revolver 38 S&W special – Rare and Desirable Two-Tone “Pinto” Smith & Wesson Model 42 Centennial Airweight Double Action Revolver with Original Box. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/47/3722/smith-wesson-42-revolver-38-sw-special.
