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LOT 76
Smith & Wesson Number 3 American 2nd Model Single Action Revolver - NSN, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 inch
solid rib bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. Introduced in 1872. The revolver features a scarce 6 inch barrel (standard
length was 8 inches), one-line barrel rib legend, gold plated cylinder with remaining surfaces nickel plated, non-
visible serial number, mismatched assembly numbers, cylinder chambered for .44 S&W Russian (original .44 S&W
American cylinder likely traded out of the cylinder chambered in .44 S&W Russian, a more popular caliber of the day), “kill notches” on
the left grip panel, and grip frame modified to better fit the contours of the user’s hand during its service life. This S&W has all the hallmarks
of a well traveled trusty sidearm carried at the hip for years!
CONDITION: Very good showing great working gun character for a sidearm modified to fit the period needs of its owner. The cylinder retains 30% of the gold plating mostly in the flutes with a smooth dark brown patina on the balance. The remaining surfaces retain 80% of the reapplied nickel plating with a mottled brown-gray patina on the balance. The ill fitting grips are personalized with six “kill notches.” Mechanically needs work. Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,500
LOT 77
Scarce Japanese Navy Contract Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Single Action Revolver - Serial no.
29391, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This revolver falls into the 28111-
29668 serial number range of an August 1896 dated shipment of New Model No. 3s exported to Japan via
Takata & Company. Nearly a third of this model was exported to Japan. This example lacks Japanese contract
markings; however, the Japanese military purchase markings are not present on a majority of Japanese contract guns.
The lanyard ring is through the butt serial number, and the number “704” was subsequently stamped on the butt. The
barrel is unnumbered. The serial number “29391” is clearly marked on the cylinder and barrel latch.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 70% original blue finish with holster type wear and mostly smooth brown-gray patina on the
grip straps. 75% original case colors remain on the hammer and 40% on the trigger guard. The slightly undersize grips
are very good with some dings and scratches and some wear along the top of the checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 78
Very Scarce Turkish Contract Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 .44 Rimfire Single Action Revolver -
Serial no. 1006, 44 RF cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Produced on order for the Ottoman
Empire, the Turkish Contract New Model No. 3 was chambered for the .44 Henry Rimfire, a cartridge that was
already on the decline on the domestic market but still in demand overseas. Springfield Armory provided the Ottoman government the services of one of their inspectors, A. F. Cameron, to serve as their representative and chief inspector for the contract run. His initials are marked on the top of the left grip panel on this revolver. The inspection mark “P” is visible on the rear face of the cylinder and the frame beneath the cylinder. The barrel latch is unnumbered. Matching serial numbers are on the butt, right grip panel, and cylinder.
CONDITION: Very good as a surviving Turkish contract New Model No.3 revolver in .44 rimfire in above average condition with 35% plus original blue finish remaining and smooth brown and gray patinas associated with a well traveled sidearm on the balance. The heavily worn grips are good and display similar honest working gun character and wear from years in the hand. Ejector needs work, otherwise action functions fine. Turkish contract S&W New Model No. 3 revolvers are not often encountered, so don’t miss your chance to acquire a S&W rarity. Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 79
Historic, Documented Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Target Single Action Revolver Shipped to
International Target Shooting Champion and New York Police Officer William E. Petty with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 20740, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter
confirms the revolver was shipped on December 17, 1892 and delivered to William E. Petty of New York City. No other details are
provided. It is not often that the factory shipped directly to an individual as it was Smith & Wesson policy to work directly with its distributors. Shipping to an individual occurred only in special cases, usually when the individual was a prominent person like William
Petty. As S&W historian Roy Jinks notes in the factory letter, “Petty was one of America’s great revolver shooters. On March 15, 1901 Mr.
Petty set a new 100 shot 20 yard record firing a score of 908. Mr. Petty was a great fan of Smith & Wesson’s and used his New Model No. 3
to win many matches.” This revolver has yet to be documented to any of Petty’s wins. The “Report of the Police Department of the City of New York” for the year of 1904 lists 19th century champion shooter William E. Petty as serving with the New York City Police Department from May 5, 1884 until his retirement on May 25, 1904. Petty started the first organized police marksmanship program for the NYPD when future U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt was the NYC Police Commissioner. Petty is quoted in Richard Zacks’“Island of Vice: Theodore Roosevelt’s Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York” (page 220-221) expressing his dismay over the lack of proper weapons training
received by New York City police officers in the late 1880s. For Petty it was imperative that his students received only the best revolver training: “A trained marksman can disable a man where a bumbler might kill.” The revolver is pictured and identified in David Chicoine’s “Smith & Wesson Sixguns of the Old West” on page 392. The revolver is fitted with target sights, has the two-line address/patent dates
legend on the barrel rib, and wears a set of checkered walnut grips. The left side of the grip frame has a S&W factory rework star and May 1970 (“570”) factory return date. Matching serial numbers appear on the butt, right grip panel, cylinder, barrel latch (“740”), and barrel. CONDITION: Fine, retaining 99% plus of the factory reapplied nickel plating with some scattered handling marks. The grips are very good with an applied coat of varnish. Mechanically excellent. A known target revolver shipped to international target shooting champion and forefather of police marksmanship training William E. Petty.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK SMITH & WESSON SIXGUNS OF THE OLD WEST BY CHICOINE