Original Item: Only One available. This is a really nice and rare old Wild West Revolver to find. This is a very nice Smith & Wesson "New Model" No. 3 revolver, most likely in the popular .44 Russian caliber. It has some lovely aged walnut grips. The S&W Model No. 3 was introduced in 1869 as the U.S. Army's principal sidearm, which they used until 1873. It was also sold under contract to Russia, resulting in the popular "Russian Model" of the No.3, which had several improvements requested.

The Russian contract however was cancelled after the revolver was reverse engineered, and produced by firms across Europe. Smith & Wesson then developed this, the "New Model", with all of the incremental improvements made to the other models.

This fine example features a slightly shortened 6" barrel and has a cylinder capacity of 6 shots, and functions in single-action only. The top of the barrel bears the S. & W. patent dates up to 1877, though they are illegible in areas:

These patent markings are definitive for the "New Model" No.3, due to the 1877 patent date. The exterior surface of the revolver is quite worn, with only a few traces of the original nickel plated finish. However, the serial number 23524 on the bottom of the grip is clear, and matches the serial number stamped on the back of the cylinder.

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, however the hand is somewhat worn, making it finicky, so it has trouble indexing on some chambers, though the cylinder lock has no issues. The revolver breaks open correctly with ejection, and correctly retracts. The bore shows rifling, but it is definitely worn. This is a revolver that saw extensive use over the years.

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

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.

Specifications: 

Years of Manufacture: c.1880
Caliber: .44 Russian (Most likely)
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 6 inches
Overall Length: 11 1/2 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 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.

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