by Mel Carpenter

When Smith and Wesson (S&W) prepared to market their first revolver in 1857, it was essential that they also be in a position to produce and market the cartridges to go with it. For the first few years, they manufactured their own cartridges at their plant on Market Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. After 1860, Charles D. Leet acted as an inside contractor for S&W, manufacturing cartridges both with the S&W label as well as his own label. by Mel Carpenter employees. In 1869, S&W got out of the cartridge business entirely, selling all equipment to a new firm, Hall and Hubbard. Only .22 caliber short and .32 short rimfire cartridges were produced by S&W. Charles D. Leet initiated the .32 long version and produced a number of calibers, including the various Spencer rounds 

After the end of the Civil War, S&W created a new cartridge company in Springfield, Massachusetts, known initially as “Smith, Hall and Farmer” and shortly thereafter renamed “Smith, Hall and Buckland”. The principals, Dexter Smith, Joseph Hall, Charles Farmer, and Cyrus Buckland, were all S&W employees. In 1869, S&W got out of the cartridge business entirely, selling all equipment to a new firm, Hall and Hubbard. 

Only .22 caliber short and .32 short rimfire cartridges were produced by S&W. Charles D. Leet initiated the .32 long version and produced a number of calibers including the various Spencer rounds After the end of the Civil War, S&W created a new cartridge company in Springfield, Massachusetts, known initially as “Smith, Hall and Farmer” and shortly thereafter renamed “Smith, Hall and Buckland”. The principals, Dexter Smith, Joseph Hall, Charles Farmer, and Cyrus Buckland, were all S&W Figure 1 – A very rare and highly desirable Smith & Wesson No. 1 (.22 short). These black boxes with gold lettering rarely survived. Figure 3 – Smith, Hall and Farmer, No.1 (.22 short); note reference to the S&W patent. 

Hall and Hubbard persisted until 1874 when they were driven out by the big firms such as UMC. They manufactured .22 caliber short and long rimfire cartridges, .25 Bacon & Bliss, .30 short, .32 short and long, .38 short and long, .44 Henry, .46 short and 56 46 and 56-52 Spencer cartridges.