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LOT 1094
Extremely Scarce Documented Australian Colonial Police Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action First Model
Revolver with Stock - Serial no. 47216, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Virtually unknown in America, this extremely rare S&W .44 Double
Action 1st Model revolver with shoulder stock was issued to the Australian Colonial Police. Noted S&W historian and author Jim Supica believes this Australian Colonial Police stocked .44
Double Action is possibly the only one of its type in America. In his included letter written to the Ballarat, New South Wales,
chief of police, Supica reported his findings: “This gun has caused something of a stir among advanced S&W collectors in the U.S.A. The single action S&W New Model No. 3 stocked & purchased by the Australian Colonial Police is a well known & desirable variation. However, the double action gun with an attached stock & Australian Police usage is virtually unknown...I
visited with an Australian dealer of antique arms, who confirmed that the S&W stocked double action was known but rather scarce
variation among advanced Australian collectors.” A letter from the Australian dealer confirming Australian Police use of the .44 DA is
included. Provenance for this set is explained in two accompanying letters. The first is a 1993 dated notarized letter from previous owner
C.D.R., who acquired the revolver and stock in Australia while working as a “pilot for a major air cargo company. During one of my many
trips in Australia, I uncovered this outfit. It was purchased in (approximately) 1959 or 1960, at a Municipal sale. By this I mean the town of
Ballarat, New South Wales, was auctioning off city property no longer in use...If I remember, this was the only handgun outfit, the rest being rifles.”
As explained in a second 1993 letter, firearms collector and dealer O.C. Young acquired the gun from C.D.R. and quickly sold it to Jim Supica. As O.C. Young
put it, “It is a unique and one of a kind weapon, and unique to Australia. Collected by an individual who due to career, had the opportunity to acquire this unusual piece of ‘Down Under’ history.” Like its Australian Contract Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 single action revolver cousin, the butt is stamped with a broad arrow proof. The broad arrow is stamped on firearms used by the Australian Colonial Police. The left side of the barrel has the caliber marking, the cylinder measures 1 9/16 inches as is correct with examples above serial number 15340, and the barrel rib has the two-line patent dates marking. The serial number on the butt has been partially removed by the stock cutout. The full matching serial number remains on the right grip panel, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. The nickel plated shoulder stock is numbered “13020,” is stamped with a broad arrow on the lower tang, and is fitted with an S&W hard rubber buttplate. Purportedly these .44 DA revolvers were adapted in Australia with a New Model No. 3 stock. In the accompanying statement on S&W letterhead, S&W historian Roy Jinks confirms the revolver was shipped on February 28, 1905 and delivered to Marcus Hartley Co. of New York City. Although this model was cataloged into the 20th century, all frames were manufactured prior to 1899, making this model an antique.
CONDITION: Very good overall, displaying authentic wear and use for an unusual stocked S&W .44 DA revolver issued to the Australian Colonial Police. The metal surfaces have a classic appearance associated with a hostile environment that is the Australian Outback while retaining strong amounts of original blue finish in the sheltered areas and the grips show wear from spending time in the hand. The stock is also very good and shows similar working gun character with traces of original nickel plating remaining on the hardware. Mechanically excellent. This is a great piece of history from the “Land Down Under” that is missing from even the most advanced collections. A must have S&W .44 DA revolver for the serious S&W collector. No collection can be considered complete without this stocked revolver!
Provenance: C.D.R; O.C. Young; The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 3,750 - 5,000
LOT 1095
Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Single Action Revolver Submitted as an English Reference Patent Model with Factory Letter - Serial no. 10318, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6
1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 6 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish and checkered walnut grips as well
as being shipped on September 16, 1880 and delivered to M.W. Robinson of New York
City. This was an 11 gun shipment. The factory letter further states, “This revolver is listed
on the invoice as memoranda for W&C Scott & Sons, London, England...The PR & S Joint Patents marking indicates that the revolver was supplied at no charge to W&C Scott to be su
THE PR&S MARKING REFERENCED IN THE LETTER IS STAMPED ON THE FRAME BELOW THE CYLINDER
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bmitted as a reference patent model for Smith & Wesson protecting the company’s patents in England.” The PR&S marking referenced in the letter is stamped in the frame well, below the
cylinder: “P R & S/JOINT PATENTS/C11272.” London proofs are on the barrel and cylinder. Barrel rib has the two-line S&W address/patent dates marking. Matching serial numbers appear on the butt, right grip panel, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch.
CONDITION: Very good retaining 30% original blue finish and patterns of original case colors on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips show similar character associated with heavy use. Mechanically excellent. A very interesting S&W New Model No. 3 revolver used as a reference patent model in England.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,500