Original Item: Only One available. Here we have what is truly a fantastic offering, a great condition example of a rare old Wild West Revolver, a Smith & Wesson "2nd Model Schofield" No. 3 revolver in .45 Smith & Wesson Caliber, complete with a period correct military issue M1881 holster! To make this even better, it comes with full documentation from the office of the historian at the Smith & Wesson factory! The S&W Model No. 3 was introduced in 1869 as the U.S. Army's principal sidearm, after which they requested several changes to the design suggested by Major George W. Schofield.

A contract was issued to Smith & Wesson for 3,000 of the new “Schofield” model revolver in September of 1874. These guns would become known to collectors as 1st Model Schofield revolvers. The reports from the field and testing were positive enough that a second order was placed for 3,000 more revolvers in March of 1875, and these would become known to collectors as the 2nd Model Schofield. These were slightly different, with a redesigned barrel catch / rear sight, as well as a frame made of steel instead of iron. These improvements were patented by Schofield, so that they could only be used on the U.S. army contract examples.

The serial number on this example is 3534, indicating it was part of the second contract, and as a real rarity, we have a letter on official SMITH & WESSON LETTERHEAD, giving research information about this revolver. Many are not even aware that letters as these were obtainable, and it is the second example that we have ever had. Dated June 12, 2020, it bears the signature of Roy G. Jinks, the Smith & Wesson historian, stamped with a S&W Raised seal. The letter contains background information on the Model 3 Schofield Second Model, revealing that after the Army dropped them from service, many were purchased by Schuyler, Hartley & Graham as well as Francis Bannerman, and then modified by having the barrel cut down. This example however was spared that fate.

The letter then reveals that "this handgun, with serial number 3534 was shipped on October 12, 1876 and delivered to The National Armory, Springfield, MA. This shipment was for 3000 units with 7 inch barrels, blue finish and smooth walnut grips. We have no records of how the government issued these revolvers to the military troops. These revolvers were delivered in various size groups, but the official date is the date listed above when they were invoiced to the U.S. Government." The letterhead is 100% original, and even has a large S&W Seal watermark visible in the light. A fantastic document to accompany a great example of this historic revolver!

This fine documented example of a 2nd Model Schofield features an unmodified 7" barrel and has a cylinder capacity of 6 shots, functioning in single-action only. The left side of the barrel bears the correct Smith & Wesson patent information:

The right side of the barrel bears the Schofield patent information:

There is also a U.S. marking on the bottom of the grip, indicating U.S. Army Service, as well as a rack number 37. Next to this is the original serial number 3534, which also appears on the back of the cylinder and on the inside of the right grip scale. This serial number is definitive for a 2nd Model Schofield revolver. Additionally. both grips still bear faint inspection cartouches, which are entirely correct. The right grip has a faint script CW cartouche, for US arsenal sub-inspector Charles Woodman, specifically noted for inspecting the 2nd Model Schofield 1876-1877. The left grip has a fainter cartouche, but we can tell that it is a script JRJr., for US Ordnance Department inspector Lt. James Rockwell Jr., U.S. Army, noted for inspecting Schofield Revolvers 1874-1876. Under this is a very faint 1876, the date of acceptance, which fits right in with the documentation.

The U.S. Army eventually decided to switch to the Colt Single Action Army revolver in .45 Long Colt, so they disposed of the Schofield Model Revolvers via the surplus market, where they became very popular in the "Old West". 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.

In addition to the surplus market, they were also sold off to state governments for use in their militia and Guard units, and this revolver came to us with a period correct M1881 top flap holster, designed to fit both the Colt Single Action Army AND the Smith & Wesson Schofield revolvers. This is why it has two holes in the top flap for the stud. This well-patinated example has unit markings stamped onto the flap, the most important of which is N.G.W., for "National Guard Washington". The holster is definitely in relic condition, with the finish flaking off and the seams mostly split, but it it came with the revolver and has clearly been with it for some time.

The revolver is in very good condition, and does not look to have ever been disposed of on the "frontier market". The barrel and cylinder, which would have been in contact with the holster, show loss of the original bluing, and now display a dull gray patina. The frame however still displays a good amount of the original blue. All of the markings on the metal are still crisp, and it has just a great overall patinated look. The grips are only lightly worn, and the cartouches really add to the look.

The revolver functions flawlessly, cycling correctly with accurate indexing, a secure cylinder lockup, and a strong dry fire. We did not notice any of the usual finicky behavior we can see from revolvers of this age. The revolver breaks open correctly with ejection, and correctly retracts. The bore is in excellent condition, showing crisp lands and grooves with a mostly bright finish showing just a few areas of light oxidation. The machining marks are still visible on the lands, indicating it did not see much use at all!

A fantastic Smith & Wesson 2nd Model Schofield Revolver offering, complete with an original holster and full factory documentation. We rarely get such compelling offerings, and this is only the 3rd Schofield we have ever had, and by far the best. Ready to add to your collection and display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1876
Caliber: .45 Smith & Wesson
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 7 inches
Overall Length: 12 3/4 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

History of the Smith & Wesson Schofield Model .45cal Revolver

The U.S. Army adopted the .44 S&W American caliber S&W Model 3 revolver in 1870, making it the first standard-issue, cartridge-firing revolver in US service. Most military pistols until that point were black powder cap-and-ball revolvers, which were (by comparison) slow, complicated, and susceptible to the effects of wet weather.

In 1875, the US Ordnance Board granted S&W a contract to outfit the military with Model 3 revolvers incorporating the design improvements of Major George W. Schofield (known as the "Schofield revolver"), providing that they could make the revolvers fire the .45 Colt (or ".45 Long Colt") ammunition already in use by the US military. S&W instead developed their own, slightly shorter .45 caliber round, the .45 Schofield, otherwise known as the .45 S&W.

When it became obvious in the field that the two cartridges would not work interchangeably in the Schofield (although they both worked in the Colt), the U.S. government adopted the shorter .45 Schofield cartridge as the standard cartridge. Despite the change, old stocks of the longer .45 Colt rounds in the supply line caused the Army to drop most of the Schofields and continue with the Colt. Major Schofield had patented his locking system and earned a payment on each gun that S&W sold, and at the time, his older brother, John M. Schofield, was the head of the Army Ordnance Board and the political situation may have been the main issue for the early end of army sales.

Many of the S&W Model 3 Schofield revolvers served in the Indian Wars, with reports of them in use as late as the Spanish–American War and Philippine–American War. Like the other Model 3s, they were also reportedly popular with lawmen and outlaws in the American West, and were reportedly used by Jesse James, Bob Ford (who used one to kill James),[6] John Wesley Hardin, Pat Garrett, Theodore Roosevelt, Virgil Earp, Billy the Kid, and many others. The S&W No. 3 revolver was famously used by Wyatt Earp during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral with the Clanton Gang.

While the standard barrel length was 7 inches, many Schofields were purchased as surplus by distributors, and had the barrels shortened to 5 in, and were refinished in nickel. After the Spanish–American War of 1898, the US Army sold off all their surplus Schofield revolvers, which were reconditioned by wholesalers and gunsmiths (at professional factory-quality level), with a considerable number offered for sale on the commercial market with a 5-in barrel, as well as the standard size barrel of 7 in.

Lieutenant Colonel Schofield shot himself on December 17, 1882, with a S&W Schofield revolver after suffering a bout of mental illness, stress, and isolation.

An engraved, gold-plated New Model No. 3 with pearl grips was presented to sharpshooter Annie Oakley in the 1890s by her husband Frank Butler. The revolver was one of three embellished guns that were cased for Oakley as a presentation group.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.