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LOT 1090
Smith & Wesson No. 3 American 2nd Model Single Action Revolver Linked to the Texas-Mexico Border -
Serial no. 15415, 44 S&W American cal., 4 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, pearl grips. Manufactured from 1872 to 1874, this S&W No. 3 American 2nd Model Revolver has a interesting story to tell. It has been period modified with a shortened barrel and added post front sight and linked to the Texas-Mexico border. In his 1989 letter, previous owner John Curtis states: “This gun was a regular blued Smith 2nd Model American that came out of Mexico as I bought it from a North Dakota dealer, Douglas Janacke, who bought it back from Mexico with a bunch of Winchester 66s about 10 years ago...I was never able to totally substantiate the story that it was a ‘post sight’ conversion /barrel cut to 4 1/2” by either a Texas gunsmith or a gunsmith in Mexico but I do know that a number of them found favor with the Mexican bandits and revolutionaries following the ouster of Maximilian from the throne of Mexico in the late ‘60s early ‘70s. For almost forty years Smith-Wesson Americans and Schofields turned up in abundance in Mexico.” Curtis notes a Schofield own by Pancho Villa also had a cut down barrel. The gun certainly has the look of a well-traveled firearm that spent a lifetime in the harsh climate south of the border. CONDITION: Fair with all of the appearance of great working gun character right down to the barrel modification made by its previous owner to meet the needs of the day, most likely at the Texas-Mexico border. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The John Curtis Collection; The Supica Collection. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,750
LOT 1091 Desirable Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action Frontier Target Revolver - Serial no. 13583, 44 WCF cal., 5 inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. All frames for this model were manufactured pre-1899, but finished revolvers were shipped as late as 1913. The revolver features a pinned beaded blade Lyman front sight, an adjustable “U” notch rear sight, two-line address/patent dates marking on the barrel rib, caliber designation marked on the left side of the barrel, and matching serial numbers on the butt, right grip panel, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. Pictured in the 4th edition of Supica and Nahas’“Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” on page 122. This model is seldom found with original target sights. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% original nickel plating with smooth gray patina and flaking on the balance. 40% original case colors remain on the trigger and hammer. The grips are fine with some wear along the top of the checkering and some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Supica Collection. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 1092
Early Production Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Target Singl
Serial Number 96 with Unusual Sights - Serial no. 96, 32-44 cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. The New Model No. 3 Target Model dominated target competitions in the late 1800s, and are found in the serial number range below 4,333. Of the 4,333 target variations manufactured, only approximately 2,900 were chambered in .32-44 caliber. This example is fitted with an unusual set of sights: pinned round blade front sight with bead and rear drift sight. The top of the barrel rib has the two-line address-patent dates marking. The revolver has the 1 71/16 inch cylinder. The grip panels are numbered to a different gun (“27189”). Matching two digit serial number “96” appears on the butt, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 70% original nickel plating with mixed brown and gray patinas on the balance. Traces of original case colors remaining on the hammer and trigger guard. There is a ding on the rear sight. The grips are good with a number of handling marks (mostly on the bottom) and wear along the top of the
checkering. Mechanically excellent. A desirable S&W New Model No. 3 Target Model Revolver
with an unusual set of sights.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 1,700 - 2,750
LOT 1093
Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian 1st Model Single Action Revolver with Scarce Documented Short Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial no. 27145,
44 S&W Russian cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, antique ivory grips. Offered here is a rare S&W No. 3 Russian 1st Model Revolver with a factory documented 6 1/2 inch barrel. Standard barrel length for this model was 8 inches. The accompanying factory letter for this revolver confirms the 6 1/2 inch
barrel and lists the revolver with smooth walnut grips when it was part of a 60 unit shipment of this model to S&W’s largest distributor M.W. Robinson of New York City on June 21, 1872. In this shipment there was a mix of both blue and nickel finishes and six of these revolvers had a 6 1/2 inch barrel. Robinson likely supplied the current grips and the inscription on the right side of the frame which has since been removed. The scarce short barrel rib has the one-line address/patent dates marking ending in “RUSSIAN MODEL.” Matching assembly number on the grip frame, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch.
CONDITION: Very good with all of the character of a well-traveled 19th century firearm that has been there, done that appearance, retaining 40% of the period retailer applied nickel plating, and well aged grips with repaired left panel. Mechanically fine. A S&W No. 3 Russian 1st Model Revolver with scarce 6 1/2 inch barrel that has all the look and feel of a true survivor.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,750
89
e Action Revolver