Buff, all very interesting. Just makes the New Model #3 more fascinating than ever.
Mike, you are right about hypothesis, details, etc. I'd love to see that info on the S&WCA site, but I noticed that it costs money. I guess I'm not a serious enough collector, otherwise, I'd have no problem with the membership fee (I am a member of the WACA). I just have one, single New Model #3 (photo below) and I'd like to get an original Schofield. I spend my days doing science, up to my eyeballs in aligned sequence data, writing software to mine that data, exploring the implications for protein folding, writing papers for science journals, etc. I come here for a break .... just to enjoy. I'm enjoying this thread (except for your comments that express, shall we say, a certain 'lack of enthusiasm' for this thread).
Here's what I'll say to you, from a serious Winchester collector to a S&W collector: When I see a new fellow who doesn't know a whole lot about old Winchesters enthusiastically discussing something that I've known about for a dog's age and that has been discussed long before the new guy ever came along, I don't ridicule him, tell him this has been discussed a thousand times already, talk down to him, and in general, treat him like a moron. Quite the contrary; I encourage him and contribute to his knowledge in a down-home kind of way. This weekend, I've invited a new Winchester collector to spend the weekend with me and my family. He's a new fellow who got taken bigtime by an experienced collector who didn't want him to know things like factory info on serial numbers, etc and sold him an altered gun for an impressive price. He's coming over this weekend to get an education in what to look for in original old Winchesters, how to reload for the obsolete calibers, do some shooting, and just have a good time talking about old Winchesters while enjoying good coffee and good food. I don't know you, and perhaps you come across in a pompous, know-it-all way that is not at all the way you really are, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Nevertheless, you really need to be more encouraging to new guys who may not know a whole lot and who enjoy simple things like the chart in this thread for example.
Now here's a photo of my entire antique S&W collection (it may be a very small collection, but I ain't proud
) : A New Model #3 shipped in 1880 with a factory 6" barrel and all matching serial numbers.
Now, does anyone have anymore data to update the chart with?
Here's the latest version:
New Model #3
Serial #...Shipped............ Caliber & Type
2773 ...... Sept. 1, 1879
6561 ...... Aug. 9, 1881 .... 44 Russian, blued, 6.5" bbl, smooth wood grips
6740 ...... March 7, 1882
6763 ...... March 15, 1882
8823 ...... March 9, 1880 ... 44 Russian, 6" barrel, nickel
18099...... Nov. 11, 1883
24672...... Aug. 11, 1904 ... 44 Russian, blued, 6.5"bbl, checkered wood grips, Japan
28501...... August 12, 1896
29035...... Sept. 4, 1893 ... 45 Schofield, blued 6.5" bbl, hard rubber grips, target sights, England
31779...... Aug. 7, 1899
35102...... Dec. 28, 1915 ... 44 Russian, 5"Bbl, TgtSites, Non-rebounding Hmr, Nickel.
35602.......Ltr pending ...... 44 Russian, blued, 6.5" bbl. target sights, cut for shoulder stock
New Model #3 Target
2001 ...... Mar. 30, 1893
2100 ...... Ltr Pending ..... 38-44
3384 ...... May 11, 1899
New Model #3 Frontier 44/40
52 .......... May 13, 1891
981 ........ Dec 11, 1893 .... 5"bbl, blued, hard rubber grips