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Of the 977 Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifles manufactured, only 224 were produced with a 20 inch barrel, the rarest of the three offered barrel lengths.
LOT 99
Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle with Scarce 20 Inch Barrel and Stock - Serial no. 417, 32 cal., 20 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured from 1879 to 1887, the Model 320 revolving rifle is one of the rarest Smith & Wesson firearms manufactured, with total production of only 977. These firearms were serialized from 1 to 977. The Model 320 was manufactured in three barrel lengths of 16, 18, and 20 inches with twenty being the rarest length, only 224 were manufactured by Smith & Wesson. The 20 inch barrel has a globe front sight and two leaf folding rear sight. The top of the barrel rib is marked with the two-line address/patent dates. The matching serial number appears on the butt, cylinder, barrel and barrel latch. Blue finish with casehardened trigger guard and hammer.
The barrel is fitted with a checkered hard rubber red mottled forearm with the Smith & Wesson monogram on the underside. The grips are matching with Smith & Wesson monograms in a circle at the tops. The stock is smooth walnut with blue finished attaching iron and a checkered hard rubber buttplate with Smith & Wesson monogram. A factory peep sight is mounted on the stock attaching hardware.
CONDITION: Very good. The revolving rifle retains 20% original blue finish in and around the protected areas with the balance a smooth brown patina. Traces of original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard. The forearm and grips are excellent showing limited minor handling marks with overall crisp checkering. The stock is also very good with a few very minor handling marks on the wood and 50% original high polished blue finish remaining on the attaching hardware. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 9,500 - 14,000
LOT 100
Smith & Wesson No. 3 American Second Model Single Action Revolver with
Rare 7 Inch Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial no. 16351, 44 S&W American cal., 7 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Offered here is a S&W No. 3 American Second Model Revolver with a seldom seen 7 inch barrel. The standard barrel length
for this model was 8 inches. In the accompanying factory letter (copy) S&W historian Roy Jinks states the revolver was “probably sold on January 2, 1873 and delivered to the M.W. Robinson Co., New York City, NY. This shipment contained 100 units of the Model 3, 60 units were the American Model and 40 units were of the Model 3 Russian First Model. The shipment does not list any barrel lengths. Mr. Robinson’s
company had a standing order with the factory to take whatever Model 3s were available to be shipped to him. In this time frame the factory did list some shipments of 6, 6.5, and 7 inch Model
3 Americans.” In our May 2023 sale we sold another 7 inch No. American Second Model revolver from this same shipment (lot 91). Also included with the letter is a copy of the
S&W factory ledger page for this revolver. The barrel has the one-line legend ending with the 1869 patent date. The butt has provision for a lanyard ring (filler screw). The right grip
panel is numbered to the gun. Matching assembly number “226” appears on the grip frame, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. Noted collector, firearms historian, and author Charles Pate has estimated that no more
than 50-75 American models were produced with 7 inch barrels out of a total of over 30,000 manufactured. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 75% plus of the bright original polished blue finish with a smooth brown patina on the balance. The trigger guard has faded to an attractive gray. The hammer retains 50% original case colors. The grips are also very fine with some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. An absolute “must have” American Model rare barrel length example that will more than complete any S&W No. 3 collection! Estimate: 6,000 - 8,000
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