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LOT 1096
Very Scarce, Documented Early Production Two Digit Serial 16 Number Smith & Wesson .38 Winchester Double Action Revolver with 4 Inch Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial no. 16, 38-40 WCF cal., 4 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Offered here is one of only 276 .38 Winchester Double Action Revolvers S&W manufactured from 1900 to 1910 and it is an early production example with low two digit serial number (16) and scarce four inch barrel. A derivative of the 44-40 Winchester cartridge, the 38-40 never found the same level of popularity as its parent, resulting in limited production and scarcity on the current market. The accompanying factory letter confirms the revolver was shipped on May 4, 1901 and delivered to Harry L. Hawes of Springfield, Massachusetts. Hawes was the maiden name of Cynthia Wesson (1825-1906), the wife of S&W co-founder D.B. Wesson. Also, there was at least one known Hawes working at the S&W factory at this time. Also, period newspapers list a Harry L. Hawes as a sporting goods retailer in the Springfield, MA area. The revolver has matching serial numbers on the butt, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. The barrel rib has the one-line address marking, and the left side of the barrel is stamped “38 WINCHESTER CTG.” The revolver is pictured and identified in David Chicoine’s “Smith & Wesson Sixguns of the Old West” on pages 158, 161 and 162 and in Supica and Nahas 4th edition of “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” on page 123. CONDITION: Fine, retaining 60% plus bright original polish blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. 90% original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are also fine with scattered handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A rare four inch barrel S&W .38 Winchester Double Action Revolver serial number 16. Provenance: The Supica Collection. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK SMITH & WESSON SIXGUNS OF THE OLD WEST BY CHICOINE AND 4TH EDITION OF STANDARD CATALOG OF SMITH & WESSON 4TH EDITION BY SUPICA AND NAHAS
Collector’s Fact
Only 276 Smith
& Wesson Double Action Revolvers were produced in
.38 Winchester.
SERIAL NUMBER 16
LOT 1097
Documented and Very Fine Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Target Revolver - Serial no. 1666, 38-44
cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. Introduced in 1887, this is one of 1,413 New Model No. 3 Target Revolver S&W
manufactured in .38-44 S&W caliber. The revolver features a pinned blade front sight, adjustable “U” notch rear sight, 1 7/16 inch cylinder, and matching serial number on the butt, right grip frame, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. 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. The revolver is pictured in Supica and
Nahas’ “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition” on page 120.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 90% plus original nickel plating with slight frosting on rear of frame. The trigger guard
has faded to an attractive gray. The hammer retains 95% original case colors. The grips are also very fine with some minor
handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1098
U.S. Smith & Wesson First Model Schofield Single Action Revolver - Serial no. 1191, 45 S&W Schofield cal., 5 inch
solid rib bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. This revolver is one of 3,000 First Model Schofields purchased by the U.S.
Government. They were used by the U.S. Army for only a few years before being sold as surplus on the civilian market
and used in the West by Wells Fargo express agents and many others. The U.S. military markings include “US” stamped on the butt, “L” and “P”
stamped on the barrel and rear cylinder face and “L” on the frame. The barrel has been shortened during its period of use, as was common with 19th century
revolvers purchased by the various express companies; however, the Wells Fargo marking is spurious as well as the “RFD” marking on the butt and ejector
housing. The left grip panel has a restamped cartouche. Matching serial numbers appear on the butt and cylinder.
CONDITION: Very good, retaining 70% period retailer applied nickel plating with a smooth gray patina and some pitting on the balance. The revarnished grips are
very good with a dent below the restamped cartouche and minor handling marks. Mechanically fine. A survivor of the Indian Wars that likely saw military and civilian use out West. Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK STANDARD CATALOG OF SMITH & WESSON 4TH EDITION BY SUPICA AND NAHAS
U.S. Smith & Wesson First Model Schofield Single Action Revolver - Serial no. 1521, 45 S&W Schofield cal., 7 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Only 3,035 First Model Schofield revolvers were manufactured, all in 1875. 3,000 were purchased by the U.S. Government for use in the West, 35 were sold on the civilian market. Many were altered and used by Wells, Fargo & Co. This example remains in U.S. configuration. The revolver has “US” stamped on the butt, U.S. Ordnance stamps “L” and “P” on the underside of the barrel lug and rear cylinder face, and matching serial numbers on the butt, right grip panel, and cylinder. CONDITION: Very good plus showing great Western frontier issue type character overall, retaining 30% original blue finish with a smooth gray patina on the balance and grips with a slight chip at the toe (left panel), some high edge wear and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically fine.
LOT 1099
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000 93