Original Item: Only One available. This is an unusual old Wild West Revolver to find. This is a very nice Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolver in .44 S&W, which was introduced in 1869 as the U.S. Army's principal sidearm, which they used until 1873. It features a long 8" barrel and has a cylinder capacity of 6 shots, and functions in single-action only. The top of the barrel bears all the S. & W. patent dates up to 1869:

The model 3 was produced until 1898, however new patents were added over the years, including 1875, so this revolver was produced sometime 1870-1875.

The serial number 9557 is stamped on the flat on the bottom of the grip, as well as on the inside of one of the two wooden grip scales. The cylinder, barrel lock and end of the barrel frame are just numbered with the last two digits of 57. 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.

This fine early revolver is offered uncleaned, straight from very long term storage so it is "fresh" to the market. It functions well, with a strong auction and functional spent cartridge ejector. As with any revolver of this age, it can be a bit finicky. The spring for the ejector release is missing, so it must be held forward for ejection to occur. Bore has lands and grooves, though they definitely show wear. This was not a case queen!

A very nice used example, completely honest, ready for display!

History of the Smith & Wesson Model 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.

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: c.1870-1875
Caliber: .44 S&W American
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 8 inches
Overall Length: 11 1/4 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

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 posses, 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 all US States and most nations around the world.

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