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LOT 3071
Smith & Wesson Model 3 American 1st Model Single Action Revolver - Serial no. 5607, 44 S&W
American cal., 8 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured from 1870 to 1872, the First
Model American was the first top break, automatic ejecting revolver made in the United States. The
American model was introduced 3 years before the Colt Single Action Army revolver and is probably,
more than any other model, associated with the historic American West. As S&W expert Roy Double pointed out over fifty years ago, “This
was a work gun; a big, heavy-caliber holster gun worn openly and ready to hand; a timely gun indigenous to America on the move and a part of America’s greatest adventures.” Difficult to obtain in any condition, this original American Model revolver is indeed a rare and desirable firearm. The barrel rib has the one-line address/
patent dates marking. The right grip panel is numbered to a different gun. Matching assembly number “698” appears on the grip frame, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. CONDITION: Very good. 30% of the original blue finish remains mostly in and around the sheltered areas and traces of original case colors remain on the hammer, otherwise
the revolver has a classic smooth gray patina associated with an authentic period working gun. The sideplate shows evidence of some cleaning. The lightly sanded replacement grips are good. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of S&W’s iconic Old West American 1st Model Revolver.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3072
Attractive U.S. Smith & Wesson Second Model
Schofield Single Action Revolver with Pearl Grips
and Shoulder Stock - Serial no. 3938, 45 S&W Schofield
cal., 7 inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, pearl grips. Originally manufactured
for the U.S. military circa 1876-1877, this is one of 5,934 Second Model
Schofields manufactured by S&W. Although the “US” marking on the butt
has been scrubbed, the revolver retains U.S. Ordnance markings such as the
“P” proof on the underside of the barrel and rear cylinder face and sub-inspector “C” on the rear
cylinder face. Matching serial numbers appear on the butt and cylinder. The left side of the grip
frame has a S&W factory January 1924 (“1 24”) return date. The revolver wears a set of pearl grips.
The backstrap and butt have been cut outside the factory for an included shoulder stock. After
Schofields were removed from military service, the revolvers made their way onto the commercial
market. Many were altered or updated by retailers to fit their customers’ tastes. Many were used by lawmen, express agents, outlaws, and pioneers in the Old West. This is an
example of a surplus Schofield modified to fit the needs of its owner with the addition of a shoulder stock and pearl grips, possibly by a frontier gunsmith. The period craftsmanship is
highly professional. The stock is highly figured walnut and has a checkered bare butt, and the hardware is silver plated.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 80% of the factory refinished nickel plating. The back strap shows evidence of being cleaned. The grips are very fine with a surface chip on the lower right panel, minimal handling marks, and attractive fiery colors. The stock is also fine with scattered storage dings and scratches. The stock hardware has an attractive dark aged appearance. Mechanically excellent. A very interesting example of a surplus U.S. S&W Schofield Revolver having received a period stock.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 3073
Documented American
Express Co. Marked
Smith & Wesson 1st Model
Russian Single Action Revolver -
Serial no. 11359, 44 S&W Russian cal., 5 1/4 inch solid rib bbl.,
nickel finish, walnut grips. The back strap has the American
Express Co. marking: “AM. EX. CO. NO. 287.” The barrel has been
shortened during its period of use, as was common with 19th century revolvers purchased by the various express companies, and the German blade front sight having been added during its service life with American Express. No visible assembly number on the grip frame, and assembly numbers match on the cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. The right grip panel is numbered to the gun. The revolver was displayed at the National Firearms Museum in 2008-2009 as well as part of the 2015 NRA Single Action Shooting Society exhibit. The revolver is pictured and identified in the NRA Museum’s “Guns West!” exhibit catalog on page 16.
CONDITION: Good displaying a “been there, done that” appearance for an American Express Co. S&W Russian revolver used in the period in
a challenging environment with the metal surfaces having
been polished. The grips show similar working gun
character. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Supica Collection; National Firearms Museum 2008-2009; 2015 NRA Single Action Shooting Society Exhibit.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,500
LOT 3074
Smith & Wesson .44 Double
Action First Model Revolver with
Extremely Rare Documented 2 1/2 Inch
Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial no. 21208, 44
S&W Russian cal., 2 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., nickel
finish, hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory
letter lists this revolver with a “short barrel” (exact length
unavailable), nickel finish, and checkered black hard rubber
grips when shipped on January 26, 1889 and delivered to M.W.
Robinson of New York City. In regards to the short barrel S&W
historian Roy Jinks comments in the letter, “The manufacturing records do no list any
different barrel lengths for this time frame, but the barrel could have been completed
years before it was assembled to the revolver. I have seen several short barreled models
where the barrel marking extends onto the top strap.”The 2 1/2 inch barrel is certainly
factory. As noted by Jinks the two-line S&W address/patent dates legend extends on to the top strap as necessitated by the short barrel. The barrel latch and barrel are unnumbered. Matching serial numbers appear on the butt and cylinder. The grips are poor replacements. The revolver was part of the 2015 NRA Single Action Shooting Society exhibit.
CONDITION: Fair. A true diamond in the rough this extremely rare short barrel S&W .44 Double Action Revolver is nearly impossible to find and has all of the character of a trusty sidearm that saw it all and spending a lifetime a challenging environment. Grips also fair replacements. Mechanically functions, but slightly out of time. This is a quintessential factory “belly gun” of the late 19th century! The stories it could tell! This 2 1/2 inch barrel S&W .44 DA First Model Revolver is missing from even the most advanced collections.
Provenance: The Supica Collection; 2015 NRA Single Action Shooting Society Exhibit.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
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