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LOT 80
Rare and Interesting “Club Gun” Serial Number “0” Smith & Wesson First Model
Schofield Single Action Revolver - Serial no. 0, 45 S&W Schofield cal., 7 inch solid
rib bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. Offered here is an unusual S&W Schofield Revolver with the serial number “0,” indicative of what is known in the S&W field as a “Club Gun”. It is a First Model Schofield having the first type cylinder latch. The rear cylinder face carries the U.S. Ordnance stamps “W” and “P.” There are no other visible U.S. Ordnance
markings. The cylinder has the serial number “3084.” The butt has the serial number “0” and a S&W factory The grip frame has the S&W factory January 1912 (“1 12”) return date. S&W assembled firearms specifically for prizes notable shooters of their day. Many of these purpose built guns bore a serial number “0” or a zero prefix number and we shooting clubs to be presented to the winners of matches, hence the name “Club Gun”. It is speculated that across the
of S&W production only some 750 guns were made for these purposes according to Nahas and Supica on page 336 of the “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson”, of these 750, some 50 were made especially for the Wesson family. These highly prized guns were generally assigned “zero” serial number prefixes. For comparison see S&W .44 Double Action no. 0 that is identified on page 336 of the “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” as a club gun, which is also in this auction (Lot XXX VIZN168). The factory may have assembled this Schofield from available parts in 1912. The serial number on the cylinder places it within the Second Model serial number range (3036-8969), but as already stated, the design of the cylinder latch makes the revolver a First Model. The difference in the Second Models featured a rounded edge at the top of the latch. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 97% of the factory reapplied nickel plating. The grips are also very fine with some handling marks. Action needs work as hammer will not hold at the half or full cock positions. A very interesting club gun serial number “0” S&W First Model Schofield Revolver.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
rework star. and gifts to re sent to whole
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK STANDARD CATALOG OF SMITH & WESSON BY SUPICA
Important Historic Note
Smith & Wesson assembled firearms specifically for prizes and gifts to notable shooters of their day, with many of these purpose built guns sent to shooting clubs to be presented to the winners of matches, hence the name "Club Gun". According to authors Jim Supica and Richard Nahas, it is speculated that across the whole of Smith & Wesson production, only some 750 guns were made for these purposes, and approximately 50 were made especially for the Wesson family.
82
LOT 81
Documented “Club Gun” Smith & Wesson .44 Double
Action Frontier Revolver with Box and Factory Letter
- Serial no. 0, 44 WCF cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., nickel
finish, hard rubber grips. In the accompanying factory letter
S&W historian Roy Jinks identifies this S&W .44 DA Frontier Revolver as a “club gun” that unfortunately
lacks a factory record. “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. In the factory letter Jinks notes, “It is known that several club guns were made with
only ‘0’ serial numbers, but there are no records.” The serial number “0” appears on the butt, both grip panels, and cylinder. The barrel and barrel latch are unnumbered. The revolver features a pinned blade front sight, notch rear sight on the barrel latch, and two-line address/patent dates marking on the barrel rib. This revolver is pictured in Supica and Nahas’“Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” on page 336. Includes a period 6 inch barrel .44 DA Frontier box, and bore brush. Inside the box is a handwritten note: “This revolver belonged to (Mrs) Mary Norman Smith, who was reared near Smithton, Arkansas, lived at Searey from 1907 to her death here in 1926.”
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% original nickel plating with light cylinder drag lines and scattered light flaking on the balance. 80% original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. 90% original blue remains on the trigger guard. The grips are excellent with minimal handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with most of the end label remaining.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500