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The Next Two Lots are Consecutively Serial Numbered
LOT 3212
Historic Smith & Wesson New Model No.
3 Single Action Revolver in Scarce .45
Caliber Linked to the U.S. Revenue Cutter
Service and International Target Shooting Champion and New York Police
Officer William E. Petty with Factory Letters - Serial no. 26196, 45 cal., 6 1/2 inch
solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This is a very interestingly assembled S&W
New Model No. 3 revolver linked to the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and International
Target Shooting Champion and New York Police Officer William E. Petty. The frame carries the
serial number 26196. Based on information provided in the accompanying factory letter, no.
26196 was shipped on June 27, 1890, and delivered to the U.S. Government. As S&W historian
Roy Jinks explained in the letter, “The revolvers in this serial range listed as going to the United
States Government are generally believed to be for the United States Revenue Cutter Service.”
No. 26196 is listed in Supica and Nahas’ “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson” (page 106) as
falling in the 26192-26210 serial number range of known New Model No. 3s issued to the U.S.
Revenue Cutter Service. Around 140 Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 revolvers were purchased
for the Revenue Cutter Service, the predecessor of the Coast Guard, between 1890 and 1894.
The cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch carry the serial number 28094. In the accompanying factory letter, no. 28094 was chambered
in rare special order .45 caliber. In the letter S&W historian Roy Jinks noted, “The exact .45 caliber is not listed, however it is listed with a group of .455 caliber revolvers shipped to England.” No. 28094 was not shipped to England as confirmed by the factory
letter. According to factory records, the host revolver was shipped on September 7, 1896, and delivered to noted target shooting champing William E. Petty of New York City. Shipping to an individual occurred only in special cases, usually when the individual was a prominent person like William Petty. Petty was one of American’s best revolver target shooters, is known to have been a huge fan of S&W, and used the New Model No. 3 in many winning matches. Petty also served with the New York City Police Department. Petty started the first organized police marksmanship program for the NYPD when future U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt was the NYC Police Commissioner. The revolver has target sights, the two-line S&W address/patent dates rib marking,
and unnumbered right grip panel.
CONDITION: Fine as assembled (see above). The frame retains 40% original blue finish and the cylinder and barrel retain 70% original blue finish with a smooth brown patina on the balance. The hammer and trigger guard retain 90% refinished blue finish. The
LOT 3210
Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3
Single Action Revolver - Serial no. 13301,
44 S&W Russian cal., 5 inch solid rib bbl.,
nickel finish, hard rubber grips. This revolver will letter
as shipped to F.W. Currier of Ft. Bayard, New Mexico on
April 8, 1878, and has the appearance of a well seasoned
firearm that spent a lifetime in the challenging
Southwest environment. The revolver received
modifications during its service life to fit
the needs of the owner, The barrel was
shortened, the front sight was replaced,
and cross-hatching was added to the grip
straps. The right grip panel is numbered
to another gun. Matching serial numbers
appear on the butt, cylinder, barrel, and barrel
latch. The revolver is consecutively serialized to
the following lot, which was also part of the April 8,
1878, shipment delivered to F.W. Currier. Currier’s pair of revolvers is sequential to nos. 13300 and 13303, which were both shipped to famed Wild West showman W.F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody . CONDITION: Very good as displaying the characteristics of a
well traveled sidearm that spent a lifetime in the Southwest.
The cylinder retains 40% original nickel finish and the
remaining metal surfaces retain traces of original nickel
in the sheltered areas with a bright appearance on the
balance. The replacement grips are fine with overall crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 1,200 - 1,800
LOT 3211
Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3
Single Action Revolver with Pearl Grips
- Serial no. 13302, 44 S&W Russian cal., 7
inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, pearl grips. This revolver
will letter as shipped to F.W. Currier of Ft. Bayard, New
Mexico on April 8, 1878. The revolver features the two-line
S&W barrel rib legend ending in the reissue patent date, a trigger
guard spur, and pearl grips. Matching serial numbers appear
on the butt, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. The
revolver is consecutively serialized to the previous
lot, which was also part of the April 8, 1878,
shipment delivered to F.W. Currier. Currier’s pair
of revolvers is sequential to nos. 13300 and
13303, which were both shipped to famed Wild
West showman W.F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody .
CONDITION: Very fine. The frame and barrel
retain 95% period replated nickel finish and the
cylinder retains 30% of the nickel mostly in the flutes
with smooth gray mixed with spotting on the balance. Traces of case colors remain on the trigger guard. 85% case colors remain on the hammer. The grips are fine with minimal handling marks and attractive color. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
heavily worn grips are good. Mechanically excellent An intriguing .45 caliber chambered S&W New Model No. 3 revolver linked to the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and noted target shooting champion and progressive New York Police Officer William E. Petty with many untold stories.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3213
Rare,
Documented
Smith & Wesson Russian
2nd Model Single Action
Revolver in .44 Henry Rimfire with
Shoulder Stock - Serial no. 36857,
44 Henry RF cal., 7 inch solid rib bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. This is one of
approximately 500 Russian 2nd Model revolvers S&W manufactured in .44 Henry Rimfire, circa 1873-78 (see “Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson,” page 95). This revolver is also cut
for a shoulder stock and comes with a very desirable shoulder stock. The
stock cut on the butt partially removed the Schuyler Hartley Graham
distributor diamond “SH” marking. A lanyard ring is also mounted on the
butt. The barrel rib marking ends with “RUSSIAN MODEL.” The right grip
panel is unnumbered. Matching assembly number “1634” appears on the
grip frame, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. The revolver is pictured in Jess Hardin’s “Old Guns and Whispering Ghosts” on page 143. CONDITION: Very good, displaying “working gun” character with 25% original blue finish remaining (strongest on the right side). The undersize replacement grips are also very good with a small chip at the toe (right panel) and scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The
stock is very good with refinished metal components and minor handling marks on the wood. With only about 500 manufactured, this S&W Russian 2nd Model revolver in .44 Henry Rimfire is difficult to
find in any condition.
Provenance: The Supica Collection.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN OLD GUNS AND WHISPERING GHOSTS BY HARDIN
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