I am trying to find out what year the revolver I have was made. It is a nickel finish frontier model 3 44/40 cal. with pearl handles. The serial # is stamped in several places and is 7975. It has the double lines of manufacture dating on the barrel spine. I can see some small letters on the front sight, almost worn or renickled away- I see, LYMAN'S ??oct.6.95 - Any Info is more than I have now.

Are you sure it is a Frontier? If so it should have a
1 9/16th length cylinder. If it is 1 7/16th it's a .44 Russian.
I have a Frontier with serial # 11,808 and it shipped 12/31/1900.
All 44 Double Action frames were made prior to 1899, so they all qualify as antiques. The only way to get an actual ship date is via a factory letter. ($50) (or, if you are a member of the SWCA, you can ask Roy Jinks directly.)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

I have a measurement of 1 9/16" on the cylinder. I'm not able to post a pic just yet. Barrel length is 4"

Then it's a Frontier.
Mine was shipped to Montgomery Wards in Chicago and ended up on a ranch in Western South Dakota and then Eastern Montana.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Christos,

Is there a caliber marking on the barrel? Earlier ones were not marked but later ones were and I have been trying to get close to the number this change took place.

After the change to the 1 9/16 cylinder to accommodate the .44 WCF and .38 WCF all New Model #3s had this length cylinder, even the russians. So this is not definitive of a Frontier, but if it were a Russian the SN would be over 15,340 per SCSW. I question this number though, because it is the same as the reported total production if the Frontier of 15,340. That would be a real coincidence.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

No offense guys but you're in the wrong section. This is the hand ejector period. The moderators will probably move this when ever they notice.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

A little word to the wise -- the longer cylinder can be a .44 Russian or .44-40. The short cylinder has to be a .44 Russian.

Dave T, Sorry, but this is the correct catagory. The gun is an antique, not a hand ejector. It's a top break. The Hand Ejector catagory begins with 1896 Hand Ejector models, not antique top break guns, which can go up to WW1 era in some cases. Ed.

There are no markings on the gun to indicate caliber. I know that my father bought the gun around 1975, and it has always been fired using 44/40 off the shelf ammo. The gun is very accurate and is in fine shape. A local gun shop told me years ago that it would make a fine decoration and offered me 100.00 for it. They have since went now out of business.

My DA frontier .44-40 does not have caliber markings either. Serial number 6512. Mine shipped in 1896.

My .44-40 DA says " .44 S&W Special" on the barrel, but .44 Special ammo. won't chamber, only .44Russian & .44 WCF. The gun has no serial number, either, so I think some S&W workman was having fun with the lunch box gun he took home! Ed.