Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police revolver isn’t just a firearm—it’s arguably the most documented speed-shooting revolver in American history. Originally shipped to the Anaconda Copper Mining Company in Montana on September 26, 1917, this 6-inch barreled target model would find its way into the hands of Ed McGivern, the man Elmer Keith called “the fastest and finest double-action revolver shot that ever lived.” The revolver’s historical significance is permanently memorialized by two gold inscription plates mounted directly on its frame. The right side plate records McGivern’s February 10, 1924 feats at the Judith Theatre in Lewistown, Montana, where he fired six shots in an astonishing 4/5ths of a second—a rate faster than modern automatic weapons. The left plate commemorates his December 13, 1931 demonstration for the Lewistown Police Department.
McGivern’s modifications to the revolver reveal his technical expertise. He replaced the factory Marble Sheard front sight with a King gold beaded blade and installed an adjustable “U” notch rear sight—his preferred setup for the lightning-fast target acquisition his shooting style demanded. The revolver retains its original gold S&W medallion checkered walnut grips. This specific revolver appears on page 140 of McGivern’s seminal 1938 book “Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting,” connected to his specially designed timing device (verified accurate by the U.S. Bureau of Standards). It was with this very gun that McGivern established records that remain unbroken today, including drawing and firing 5 shots into a 1-inch group at 20 feet in just 9/20ths of a second. The gun’s provenance is impeccable—documented through letters between McGivern and S&W Vice President Douglas B. Wesson, who acquired this revolver from McGivern in 1935 as partial payment for one of the first .357 Magnum revolvers ever produced (Registered Magnum No. 8). Beyond its mechanical excellence, this revolver represents the golden age of exhibition shooting and stands as tangible proof of human capability that many still find difficult to believe possible.
“Ed McGivern’s Smith & Wesson Military & Police Target Revolver.” Rock Island Auction Company, https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4094/1540/ed-mcgiverns-smith-wesson-military-police-target-revolver. Accessed 12 May 2025.
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