Original U.S. Smith & Wesson Russian Third Model No. 3 Revolver Dated 1874 with Walnut Grips - Serial 45326

Original Item: Only One available. This is an amazing find! Every young "Wild West" fans dream: A real Cowboy Six-shooter! This is a very nice frontier-worn Smith & Wesson Russian Third Model No. 3 revolver in .44 Russian, identical to the Russian Contract models, except for the markings. It features some lovely aged original walnut grips, personalized on the left side. The S&W Model No. 3 was introduced in 1869 as the U.S. Army's principal sidearm, which they used until 1873.

This fine example features the standard 6 1/2" barrel , with a cylinder capacity of 6 shots, and functions in single-action only. It also features the distinctive "spur trigger guard", unique to the later issue Russian model revolvers. It also has the location for a knurled thumb screw in front of the barrel latch, not seen on earlier versions, and removed later. In this case the screw was lost, and a flathead screw put in its place. The top of the barrel bears all the S. & W. patent dates up to 1869:

✠ SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A. PAT. JULY.10.60. JAN.17 FEB. 17 JULY 11.65 & AUG.24.69 RUSSIAN MODEL ✠

The correct narrow Cross pattée "dingbats" are present at either end of the barrel’s roll mark. While designed for the Russians, after they reverse engineered the design, Smith & Wesson turned to the commercial market and other Governments to sell the revolver to. We do not see any "Reissue" marking, so this is an early example. The serial number 45326 is stamped on the flat on the bottom of the grip, next to where the lanyard loop used to be, and there is a faint 1874 date in a box above it. We removed the grips, and they are both original, with serial number 45236 stamped into only the right grip scale, as is correct. The right side of the grip frame, the top latch, and the rear of the barrel frame by the latch are all marked with matching assembly number 6197. The rear of the cylinder is unfortunately oxidized and worn, so we cannot see the assembly number, but we are fairly certain it is the original cylinder. That makes this a lovely "Mostly Matching" example, with a fantastic aged patina!

This is a Top-break revolver making loading extremely easy and frankly a much better system than the side loading Colts and Mervin & Hulbert revolvers. This was the same model revolver that the famous Lawman Wyatt Earp used in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26th 1881.

The revolver functions well, with a good cylinder lockup, and smooth crisp action. The cylinder indexes correctly, and the hammer has a fully functional loading position, which frees up the cylinder and allows the barrel latch to be opened. The ejector is fully functional as well, though we have not tested it on actual cartridges. The bore is in very good condition, showing a mostly bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. There is a bit of past fouling and oxidation in the grooves, but nothing out of the ordinary for a revolver of this age, and definitely a pretty stark contrast to the exterior.

Exterior condition is a dark oxidized patina, showing areas of past peppering as well as light past pitting, later cleaned away. This looks like a revolver that was exposed to the elements for a long period of time, probably out on the frontier, where rain was not a reason to stop. There are no trades of the original finish, even under the grips, so we believe that the revolver was originally blued. The grips have aged beautifully, showing a lovely dark brown color with no major damage such as cracks or chips. The left grip scale has a conjoined JH marking, most likely the initials of the owner.

A very nice frontier worn example, completely honest, ready for display! Perfect for any Americana collector!

Specifications:
Years of Manufacture: 1874
Caliber: .44 Russian
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 6 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 12 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

More on the "Russian Model" No. 3:
Almost as soon as Smith & Wesson’s Model No. 3 American, the first practical big-bore metallic cartridge revolver, was introduced in 1870, a sample was presented to Russian military attaché Gen. Alexander Gorloff. By May 1, 1871, the first of many large contracts for the Russian military were being filled. The single action handgun also began going through several modifications—most of these alterations were those requested by Russian military officers at the factory. A major change they required was a newer, more powerful cartridge than its .44 American round. S&W developed the .44 S&W Russian, resulting in the retooling to fit the Russian ammunition for the Russian contracts as well as for commercial sales. Thus, the First Model Russian looked virtually identical to its American predecessor.

History of the Smith & Wesson Model No. 3
The Smith & Wesson Model 3 was a single-action, cartridge-firing, top-break revolver produced by Smith & Wesson from circa 1870 to 1915.

It was produced in several variations and sub-variations, including both the "Russian Model", so named because it was supplied to the military of the Russian Empire (41,000 No. 3's were ordered in .44 caliber by the Imperial Russian Army in 1871), and the "Schofield" model, named after Major George W. Schofield, who made his own modifications to the Model 3 to meet his perceptions of the Cavalry's needs. Smith & Wesson incorporated these modifications into an 1875 design they named after the Major, planning to obtain significant military contracts for the new revolver.

The S&W Model 3 was originally chambered for the .44 S&W American and .44 Russian cartridges, and typically did not have the cartridge information stamped on the gun (as is standard practice for most commercial firearms). Model 3 revolvers were later produced in an assortment of calibers, including .44 Henry Rimfire, .44-40, .32-44, .38-44, and .45 Schofield. The design would influence the smaller S&W .38 Single Action that is retroactively referred to as the Model 2.