I have the opportunity to buy a Schofield #3 1st Model 45, serial # 11xx. U.S. marked. It has been in the family of the original officer it was issued to since approx. 1875. The condition is remarkable - may be unfired and the finish is 99%. It is in a green box correct to the time, and may be the original. I do not have any pictures.
The owner wants me to make an offer. Any thoughts on present value?
Thank you.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MJF,

Have a local antique gun collector that you trust take a look at it. It kinda sound a little too good to be true but that's not saying it isn't. It would take someone in the know making sure it is not refinished, the box is what it says it is, etc.
If you can post some pictures but nothing will replace trained eyes on the gun itself. If it is what it is claimed I would hazard a guess of 8-12 thousand, maybe more. Just my opinion.

Mj you need to get PIC's and get them to Mike, Lee and Jim and they will find out for you. They will need PIC and S/N for sure.

Mjf, If this Schofield is really a 1st Model US issue revolver, 99%, you are talking about a very expensive item. Guns like this did not come in green boxes. They were shipped in wooden crates to Springfield Arsenal, not in green boxes. All 1st models are military contract guns, there are no civilian 1st models, so be very careful of any story about a 1st model Schofield, owned by an officer since 1875, without proof that the officer bought the gun from the Army. I would also check the officer's service record to be sure he was attached to a cavalry, or other unit that was issued Schofields. If the gun passes that test, is original, etc. then the green box is something that came along later and the owner used it to contain the gun. 1st model Schofields are uncommon but not scarce, they show up in auctions and dealer lists quite often, and original condition is what affects the values and asking prices. An original 99% gun should be worth well into 5 figures. I have a 95% 1st Model in my collection that I consider to be worth $12K to $14K - at least it would take that to buy it from me. Ed.

I think that officers bought their own sidearms then. But he could have bought it from government stores? (Supply house.)

T-Star

Thank you for the replys. I have not seen the gun - it was brought to my attention by a local antique dealer who has a knack for finding estates and collections that include old guns. He knows his stuff, and I don't doubt that he has identified the gun correctly.
He's protecting his source, and I won't get to see the thing for a while, but he has promised to get some pictures.

Best I can do for pictures - taken by the seller with his film camera.

MJF, Your Schofield looks very much like one of mine but mine is about a thousand serial numbers later. Ask the seller if there is an "*" after the serial number on the butt. There was a large collection of Schofields owned by a fella in the Northwest who loved to have these revolvers refinished at the S&W Factory, circa 1914. This might be one of those. Check the left grip frame under the stock for a date stamp such as 10.14 (October, 1914). Mike

MJF, Like Mike says, check that carefully when you get it in your hands -look for a rework date under the grip. That green box is a typical factory shipping return box for a gun sent in to the factory early in the 1900s. Also surplus arms dealers who bought the surplus Schofields from the Army shipped then to individual buyers in similar boxes. Another indication of a possible rework is if those stocks don't have the military inspector's cartouche on the left side. A typical factory rework would have included new stocks but they wouldn't be inspector stamped. However, whether reworked or not, that's a very nice example of a 1st model. Personally, I don't think a factory refinish/rework, done before WW2, detracts that much from value. Ed.

Nice gun and interesting history/education here.
Too bad you have to go through the "make an offer" being coy game.They don't know quite what they have value wise,but whatever you say will be insufficient.Think I'm more of the "seller prices his own stuff-I pay it or not"
In any case,good luck with it.

Unless the photos have some lighting issues, what appears to be wear here and there clearly indicates the gun is not anywhere near 99%. Thus, one would not want to be in the position of paying 99% money for 90-95% condition.

Ed's comments on the box are dead-on. Though a hopefully-period box is certainly better than no box at all, this one shouldn't be counted too far into the value question.

If 'US' is stamped on the butt, finish is original and 90-95%, and all numbers match including grips (which should have a readable cartouche) -and- there are absoultely no signs of re-work by the factory or anyone else, the value range is north of $12,000-$15,000 with the box being gravy.

IMHO,

David

For it age, I would say it is 95 to 97% from what I see, of course I'm no expert. I think the older it gets the more imperfection's you can allow?

99% is 99%. That's what makes an old 99%'er worth so much more than a new 99%'er.

Do S&W records go back far enough for a Jinks letter ?

Originally posted by jpage:

"Do S&W records go back far enough for a Jinks letter ?"

Yes, I have one for my First Model Schofield.