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LOT 137
Outstanding Pair of Special Ordered Smith & Wesson
New Model No. 3 Single Action Revolvers with Pearl Grips
and Deluxe Presentation Case Inscribed to Financier,
Sportsman, and Renowned Dog Breeder Walton
Ferguson Jr. - A) Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Single
Action Revolver - Serial no. 32596, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6
1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, pearl grips. Both of these
revolvers were manufactured prior to 1899, and together they
represent an outstanding and attractive, special ordered pair of
Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 revolvers which, despite not
being in the serial number range of the target variation, appear
to have been ordered with competitive shooting in mind.
The popularity of target shooting and competitive shooting
was at it pinnacle right around the time these revolvers were
manufactured, and the New Model No.3 had been promoted
heavily by one of America’s greatest pistol shooters, Walter W.
Winans. The lid of the case for this pair of revolvers is embossed
“WALTON FERGUSON, JR.”, who was a wealthy resident of New
York and Connecticut. Walton Ferguson Sr. had been a partner
in the H.C. Frick Coke Co., which later went on to merge with
Carnegie Steel, Federal Steel, and National Steel to form the
industrial powerhouse, United States Steel Corporation, a
merger that was brokered by J. P. Morgan. It appears that due to
his father’s financial success, Walton Ferguson Jr. was perfectly
poised to pursue various hobbies and sporting activities in his
younger life, which included yacht racing and most notably dog
showing and breeding. Ferguson is noted regularly in period
newspapers as one of the leading breeders and showers of
English Springer Spaniels and was president of the Westminster
Kennel Club during his life. He is also noted as one of the
wealthy yachtsman who competed in 1907 at Moosehead Lake
for the “Kineo Cup” and was thus likely a founding member of
the Moosehead Lake Yacht Club. Ferguson, as well as his father,
are also noted as members of the exclusive and elite Jekyll
Island Club, which was located on Georgia’s Atlantic coast.
No mention of Ferguson as a competition shooter was found,
though it was likely a hobby or recreational activity he enjoyed
given his other pastimes.
This incredible pair of revolvers appear to have both been
special ordered, probably by Ferguson himself. As stated
previously, the pair do not fall within the separate serial
number range of the New Model No. 3 Target revolvers but
were ordered in a very similar configuration with “target” sights.
Both are marked with the standard one-line Smith & Wesson
address on top of the barrel ribs, which are flanked by Maltese
crosses. The right sides of the frames are marked with the Smith
& Wesson trademark. Both revolvers have their respective
matching serial numbers on the butts, rear faces of the
cylinders, and cylinder latches. Revolver number 32596 is fitted
with a pinned, all steel, beaded blade front sight and the target
pattern adjustable notch rear sight. Revolver number 33282 is
fitted with a pinned, white beaded blade front sight and the
target pattern adjustable notch rear sight. The serial numbers
and front sights are the only visual differences between the two.
Both of the revolvers are also fitted with a pair of smooth pearl
grips, with the left panels on each having a S&W monogram
medallion. The two are cased together in an attractive, leather
wrapped case with Ferguson’s name on the lid filled with gold.
The interior is fitted for both revolvers and lined with tan/yellow
velvet with a J.B. Crook & Co., Guns & Pistols, 1180 Broadway,
N.Y., retailer mark on the lining of the lid, also filled with gold.
This cased pair are certainly a fitting pair of recreational target
shooting revolvers for a man of Ferguson’s wealth
and social standing!
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 90% plus of the bright original
blue finish and 95% plus of the vibrant original case colors
with an area of thinning/spotting on the left side of the barrel,
some light handling wear, and a cylinder turn line. The grips are
excellent with a few very light handling marks. Mechanically
excellent. The case is fine showing moderate handling/storage
wear on the exterior and some light wear on the interior. This
is an outstanding pair of special ordered Smith & Wesson New
Model No. 3 revolvers which are presentation cased for the
wealthy early 20th century sportsman Walton Ferguson Jr.
B) Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Single Action
Revolver - Serial no. 33282, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue finish, pearl grips. Manufactured prior to 1899.
See description for “A”.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% of the bright, original, high
polish blue finish and 97% plus of the vibrant original case
colors with some scattered light handling marks, some light
edge wear, and a cylinder turn line. The grips are excellent with
only the slightest handling marks. Mechanically excellent. An
outstanding presentation cased pair of Smith & Wesson New
Model No. 3 revolvers!
Provenance: The Cam & Deb Cooper Collection.
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000
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