Guns International #: 102918266
Seller's Inventory #: 240351

Category - Smith & Wesson Revolvers - Antique Revolvers - Cartridge

Category
Smith & Wesson Revolvers
Antique Revolvers - Cartridge

Antique SMITH & WESSON No. 3 “AMERICAN” SINGLE ACTION Revolver HOLSTER RIG .44 S&W “AMERICAN” Caliber with WALNUT GRIP

Description:
Antique SMITH & WESSON No. 3 “AMERICAN” SINGLE ACTION Revolver HOLSTER RIG

 .44 S&W “AMERICAN” Caliber with WALNUT GRIP

Here we present an antique Smith & Wesson No. 3 American Second Model Single Action Revolver manufactured circa 1872-73 with a production run between 1872 and 1874. Smith & Wesson introduced this new cartridge revolver in 1870 that would become the basis for at least five other models, and that would remain in production in one form or another for four decades. The Model No. 3 First Model, which eventually received the moniker “American” sometime in 1872 after a major contract was signed to provide revolvers of the No. 3 pattern to the Russian military, was the prototypical large frame Smith & Wesson handgun of the old west period. The revolver was chambered for the .44 S&W American cartridge, which was simply called the .44-100 when it was first introduced, but which had to be differentiated from the “Russian” variant of the .44 cartridge after that contract was signed.

The gun was a single action revolver with a six-shot cylinder and a ribbed, 8-inch round barrel. The revolver incorporated several firsts for the company, as it was the first centerfire revolver that Smith & Wesson produced. It was also the first .44 caliber handgun, the first large frame handgun, and most importantly, the first gun to feature a tip down barrel with simultaneous extraction. The revolver was originally designed for the 1870 United States Ordnance Board handgun trials and performed well enough that a contract for 1,000 guns were received by the company in December of 1870, with the deliveries made in March of 1871. These “martial” No. 3 Americans appear to be fairly evenly distributed within the serial range of 8,000 to 32,800. As mentioned above, one of the features that made the No. 3 so appealing was the “simultaneous’ extraction system. By lifting a latch on the top of the frame the action of the revolver was opened and as the barrel was tipped down, a star extractor withdrew the cartridges from the cylinder and expelled the empty cases. It was then an easy matter to replace any spent rounds, close the action and be ready to use the revolver again. By comparison, Colt’s competing design, the Model 1873 Single Action Army, required a slow system of manual extraction of each spent case one at a time, with an equally slow loading process. The simultaneous extraction system would be so successful and popular that a number of Smith & Wesson models in multiple frame sizes and calibers would utilize it, well into the 20th century. The first 1,500 or so of the #3 American revolvers were manufactured with a tiny “oil hole” in the bottom of the barrel web, just in front of the frame hinge and ratchet system. This allowed for the ratchet mechanism to be lubricated. It was discovered that this feature wasn’t needed and was eliminated somewhere between serial numbers 1450 and 1537. In all, Smith & Wesson would produce about 8,000 Model No. 3 “American” First Model revolvers between 1870 and 1872, when this refined version the “Second Model American” would replace it.

This revolver is very interesting in that all frames of the No. 3 models were made by 1898 (even though production was from 1870-1912) therefore allowing this model revolver as a whole to be classified as an antique by ATF standards. In 1877, S&W discontinued production of the earlier Model 3s such as the American, Russian, and Schofield in favor a new improved design called the “New Model” Number Three. The “New Model” has a longer cylinder allowing it to fire longer cartridges. Standard chambering was the .44 Russian, although other calibers were offered on special order. Smith & Wesson revolvers, then as now, are some of the finest in the world. Excellently machined, well-proportioned and accurate. It is no wonder why so many records of the era were set with this revolver. Notable shooters and owners of the original No. 3 include Buffalo Bill Cody, Ira Anson Paine, F.E. Bennett, Annie Oakley, Frank Butler, General George Custer and Theodore Roosevelt.

The overall condition is good+. Original nickel finish with dark plum patina making up the balance. The action is excellent. The bore is in good shape, reflective with strong rifling. The grips show use and remain solid. Comes in a hand tooled modern leather holster in very good or better condition.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 8 inches.

Caliber: .44 S&W American

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$4600

#240351
 

Price: $4,600.00                     Buy Now

Antique: Yes