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SERIAL NUBMER LISTED IN THE BOOK STANDARD CATALOG
SERIAL NUMBER 1079
OF SMITH & WESSON
BY SUPICA & NAHAS
LOT 84
Desirable, Exceptional U.S. Smith & Wesson First Model Schofield Revolver - Serial no. 1079, 45 S&W
Schofield cal., 7 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This is an exceptional original example of a First Model Schofield Single Action revolver. A total of 3,035 of these were manufactured in 1875 with seven inch
barrels, walnut grips and blue finish as the standard finish. The distinctive features of this revolver are the barrel catch attached to the frame
rather than the top strap, the gracefully shaped frame and shorter ejector housing. The U.S. Ordnance Department ordered almost the entire production. Many were issued to the 4th Cavalry and the black troops of the 9th and 10th U.S. Cavalry, the “Buffalo Soldiers” of the Indian Wars. Some notorious outlaws and lawmen of the Old West were known to have carried a Schofield as well. The left side of the ejector housing is marked with the two-line
address/patent dates and “SCHOFIELD’S PAT APR 22D 1873” on the right side. The toe of the back strap is marked “US”. The matching serial number is marked on the butt, rear cylinder face, and right grip panel. U.S. Ordnance sub-inspector mark “L” and “P” appear on the rear cylinder face, and underside of the barrel lug. The left grip panel has an Ordnance script letter cartouche.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 75% plus bright original blue finish with smooth brown patina on the balance. The trigger guard has faded to a gray. 80% original case colors remain on the hammer. The grips are excellent with handling marks and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. A well cared for, high condition representative example of a U.S. S&W First Model Schofield revolver. Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
LOT 85
Rare Highly Desirable and Documented
U.S. Smith & Wesson Model 3 American 1st Model Single Action Revolver
- Serial no. 1523, 44 American cal., 8 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured from 1870 to 1872, the First Model American was the first top break, automatic ejecting revolver. This revolver also has the distinguishment of being
one of the 1,000 manufactured for the U.S. Government, with blue finish. Interesting enough, this model was introduced 3 years before
the Colt Single Action Army revolver and is probably, more than any other model, associated with the historic American West. The American
Revolver was the first cartridge revolver adopted by the U.S. military and saw usage throughout the Indian Wars as it was reported to have been issued to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Cavalry. This rare and desirable U.S. martial revolver is listed by its serial number in the “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson
“by Jim Supica and Richard Nahas as a Model 3 that was purchased by the U.S. government (page 92). Like all government contract firearms these were subject
to military acceptance inspection which was a task assigned to Orville W. Ainsworth, one of the rarest and most collected inspectors of Colt Model 1873 Single Action Cavalry revolvers
and bear his distinctive “A” acceptance proof. The top of the barrel rib has the one line address and patent dates marking followed by “US” at the breech. The cylinder has a small letter “P” and small letter “A” on two flutes with the letter “A” repeated on the left side of the top strap and left side of the frame ahead of the trigger guard and the letter “P” repeated on the right side of the barrel forward of the hinge. The serial number is stamped on the butt with matching assembly number “S2” on grip strap under the grip, the rear of the cylinder, barrel and barrel latch. Blue finish with casehardened hammer and trigger guard and fitted with smooth walnut grips. The right grip panel is numbered to the gun.
CONDITION: Very good. The revolver retains 20% original blue finish mostly in the protected areas with the balance a smooth brown patina. The hammer and trigger guard retain flashes of original case colors. The grips are fine with a couple minor putty filled repairs near the bottom, high edge wear and some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The “U.S.” Americans transcend the “normal”
collecting genres and draw interest from U.S. military collectors, Indian War collectors as well as Smith & Wesson collectors. Given that these revolvers were issued two years prior to the Colt
1873 Single Action these pistols saw service all the
way through the Indian Wars including the Battle
of Little Bighorn. Considering the time period, the
frequent use and extremely harsh conditions this
is an excellent and original example worthy of the
most advanced collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
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