Page 101 - 87-BOOK1

LOT 93
“Club Gun” Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Target Single Action Revolver with Box and Factory Letter - Serial no. 03, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. In the accompanying factory letter S&W historian Roy Jinks
states that this New Model No. 3 is a “club gun” which is not listed in the factory club gun records. “Club Guns” are a special group of handguns S&W gave or loaned to factory personnel, shooting clubs and/or notable
shooters as samples or test guns. These highly prized guns were generally assigned “zero” serial number prefixes. The “03” serial number is stamped on the butt with matching single digit “3” on the cylinder and barrel latch. The barrel has the fitter’s number or “9” which is repeated on the cylinder under the extractor star. The revolver has the two-
line barrel rib legend, target sights, and a set of checkered walnut grips. Includes a correct period New Model No. 3 box with the number “33695” and bore brush. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 98% factory original blue finish and a few minor handling marks. 98% plus of the case colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips
are excellent with a few minor handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine. An exceptional condition S&W New Model No. 3 “Club Gun”.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,000
LOT 94
Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action First Model Revolver with Unusual
8 Inch Barrel, Box and Factory Letter Attributed to Famed Firearms
Inventor Walter Roper - Serial no. 16479, 44 S&W Russian cal., 8 inch solid
rib bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter states
this revolver had a 6 inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered black hard rubber
grips when shipped on September 20, 1886 and delivered to M.W. Robinson
of New York City. In the factory letter S&W Historian Roy Jinks provided
further information: “The revolver was rebarreled and reblued by Smith &
Wesson in April of 1930.” There is speculation that the work was specifically
carried out for famed target shooter and firearms designer Walter F. Roper,
who is perhaps most famous for his designer grips. Evidence suggesting the
revolver was reworked for Roper is found in the two labels featured on the
interior of the included 1920s S&W patent type box. One label reads, “THE
MAN THAT MADE THE NEW BARREL POSSIBLE.” The second label provides
Roper’s address (“WALTER F. ROPER/95 BENEDICT TERRACE/LONGMEADOW,
MASS”) along with “Smith & Wesson/Springfield/Mass” in pencil. Jinks
addresses the probable rework for Roper in the factory letter: “However, there is no record of the work on this revolver in company files in either April or May of 1930. The last entry for Walter Roper was in 1929 when he was working as Sales Manager of the company. This is not a surprise since I would have suspected that the work would have been done free and therefore there would not be an invoice...This revolver, when I examined, it was in a repair return box which would have been added when the revolver was completed in the Service Department.”The 8 inch barrel is an unusual feature for this model, likely made to meet Roper’s specifications. Standard barrel lengths for this model were 4, 5, 6, or 6 1/2 inches. The barrel is marked “44 S&W CTG” on the left side. The barrel rib has the one-line address. The revolver has the long 1 9/16 inch cylinder as found
on examples above serial number 15340. The left side of the grip frame has a S&W factory diamond “B” refinish mark and a S&W factory April 1930 (“4 30”) return date. Matching serial numbers are on the butt, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. The revolver is pictured in the 4th edition of Supica and Nahas’“Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” on page 29. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 97% of the factory reapplied blue finish with some muzzle wear and a few patches of gray on the cylinder. 95% of the case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are fine with some minor handling marks and some wear along the top of the checkering. Mechanically
excellent. The repaired box is fair. A very interesting 8 inch barrel S&W .44 Double Action First Model Revolver linked to renown firearms inventor Walter Roper.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,000
99
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK STANDARD CATALOG OF SMITH & WESSON 4TH EDITION BY SUPICA & NAHAS
SERIAL NUMBER 03