Original Item: Only One available. This is a really nice and rare Revolver to find, and only the second example that we have had the pleasure of handling! This is a very nice Smith & Wesson "New Model" No. 3 revolver in .44 Russian caliber, which bears the "Wavy Anchor" proof of the Japanese Kure Naval District on the underside of the frame forward of the trigger guard.

As a result of the "Meiji Restoration" that ended the Tokugawa shogunate and returned power to the Emperor, the country began a period of "Enlightened Rule." Japan ended its long isolation, and began a policy of modernization across all aspects of life. This of course included the military, and they began to import larger numbers of small arms, as their domestic arms production industry was only in its infancy. These came from all over the world, which of course would include the large industrial capacity of the United States.

The Japanese military adopted the top-break .44 caliber “Russian” Model 3 Smith & Wesson revolvers as the “No. 1 Model Break Open Handgun”, and would proceed to acquire several thousand of these over the next three decades. Due to the fact that these purchases took place over time, the guns technically belonged to four different model classes: Model 3 Russian 2nd Model, Model 3 Russian 3rd Model, New Model No. 3 Single Action and New Model No. 3 Frontier. However as these all used the same .44 S&W "Russian" cartridge and only had minor differences mechanically and visually, the Japanese military kept the same designation for all. Of these imported revolvers, some were specifically processed for Naval use, and these are the ones that bear the "Wavy Anchor" proof that this example has.

The revolver is in very good condition, and has a lovely aged patina overall, with great condition walnut grips. It features a full length 7" barrel and has a cylinder capacity of 6 shots, functioning in single-action only. The top of the barrel bears the S. & W. patent dates up to 1877:-

These patent markings are definitive for the "New Model" No.3, due to the 1877 patent date. The revolver is marked with serial number 9370 on the bottom of the butt and on the back of the barrel by the frame latch. The back of the cylinder is however marked with 9038, and the frame latch is marked with 9467. This parts swapping seems to have been relatively common among the Japanese Naval Contract revolvers, per Japanese Imported Arms of the Early Meiji era by Francis C Allan, Chip Goddard, Takehito Jimbo, Doss H. White, and Dr. Stanley Zielinski. They cite several examples where guns in the same shipment would have the parts swapped, though they are not sure why this occurred. They also indicate that serial 23850 was delivered in 1887, which means this earlier serial number was most likely delivered in 1884, and is definitely a Pre-1899 antique. For more detailed information please see the book, or this excellent writeup at College Hill Arsenal: Japanese Naval Contract Smith & Wesson New Model #3.

As mentioned previously, the revolver has a lovely overall oxidized patina, showing long use in service. This revolver was definitely originally blued, and still shows trades of that finish in more protected areas of the revolver. The revolver cycles well, with crisp indexing and a crisp dry fire. The cylinder lock is a bit worn, so sometimes the cylinder can be rotated backwards at full cock. The revolver breaks open correctly with ejection, and the ejector correctly snaps back once the action is fully open. The bore on the revolver is very good condition, showing strong lands and grooves with a mostly bright finish. There is some fouling in the grooves and oxidation haze near the cylinder, but overall it's a great shape for a black powder revolver that saw long service.

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.

A great Japanese Naval Contract "New Model 3" Smith & Wesson revolver with some great research potential. Ready to add to your collection and display!

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: c.1884
Caliber: .44 Russian
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 7 inches
Overall Length: 12 1/2 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

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.

In 1877, S&W discontinued production of its other Model 3s such as the American, Russian, and Schofield—in favor a new improved design called the New Model Number Three. This new model has a longer cylinder allowing it to fire longer cartridges. Standard chambering was .44 Russian, although other calibers were offered on special order or in related models such as the .44-40 Frontier Model, the .32-44 & .38-44 Target Models, and the very rare .38-40 Winchester Model.

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.