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LOT 3111
Scarce Smith & Wesson Model 320 Revolving Rifle with Shoulder Stock - Serial no. 336,
320 cal., 18 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured from 1879 to 1887, the Model 320
Revolving Rifle is one of the rarest Smith & Wesson firearms produced with a total production of 977. These
firearms were serial numbered from 1 to 977, and out of the 977 manufactured, 514 had the 18 inch barrel. Only 840 of
these were sold in the U.S. and the remaining 137 were exported. With each example having its own detachable shoulder
stock, the Model 320 was manufactured using the frame, cylinder and basic action of the New Model No. 3 revolver with some minor
differences in the hammer and trigger and the barrel being made of two pieces. On this example the 18 inch barrel features a blade front
sight, two leaf rear sight and two-line address/patent dates marking. The matching full serial number appears on the butt, cylinder, barrel,
and barrel latch. The forearm and grips are mottled red hard rubber and feature the S&W monogram. The stock is smooth walnut with blued
attaching hardware and a hard rubber butt-plate with S&W monogram.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 70% plus original blue finish with smooth brown patina on the balance. 30% original case colors remain on the trigger guard. 85% original case colors remain on the hammer. The forearm is excellent. There is a noticeable ding on the bottom of the left panel, otherwise the grips are very fine with overall crisp
checkering. The stock is very good with the hardware retaining 30% original blue and minor dings and scratches on the walnut. Mechanically excellent. A solid example of one of S&W’s rarest 19th century firearms.
Estimate: 8,500 - 11,000
84
LOT 3112
Smith & Wesson No. 3 American Second Model Single Action Revolver with Rare 7 Inch Barrel and Factory Letter -
Serial no. 16686, 44 S&W American cal., 7 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Offered here is a S&W No. 3 American
Second Model Revolver with a seldom seen 7 inch barrel. The standard barrel length for this model was 8 inches. In the
accompanying factory letter S&W historian Roy Jinks states the revolver was “probably sold on January 2, 1873 and delivered to
the M.W. Robinson Co., New York City, NY. This shipment contained 100 units of the Model 3; 60 units were the American Model and 40 units were of the Model 3 Russian First Model, no specific barrel lengths. are listed for either model. The letter further states “Mr. Robinson’s company had a standing order with the factory to take whatever Model 3s were available to be shipped to him. In this time frame the factory did list some shipments of 6, 6.5, and 7 inch Model 3 Americans.” Also included with the letter is a copy of the S&W factory ledger page for this revolver. The barrel has the one-line legend ending with the 1869 patent date. The butt has provision for a lanyard ring (filler screw). The right grip panel is numbered to the gun. Matching assembly number “227” appears on the grip frame, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 65% of the bright original polish blue finish with a smooth brown patina on the balance. Traces of original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips are also fine with minor dings and scratches. Mechanically excellent. A solid original example of a S&W No. 3 American Second Model Revolver with ultra rare 7 inch barrel. A must have example to complete any S&W No. 3 collection!
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,000