No. 3, Third Model Russian marked 'D. A. Russell S.L.O.'

JTChampe · #1 08-18-2014, 02:48 PM

I am researching the story of a Third Model Russian owned by my father, a longtime firearms collector. We have requested a report from S&W. This report has not yet arrived, but the piece appears to be one of the 13,000 Third Model Russians made in 1874-1878 for the commercial market. I am consulting this learned group to see if anyone knows the meaning of a marking on the right side of the barrel. It reads, "D. A. Russell, S.L.O.", nicely hand-engraved. While this marking could have been added at any time in the gun's long history, around the time of its manufacture Fort D. A. Russell (now F.E. Warren AFB near present-day Cheyenne, WY) was the largest post on the Western frontier. As for "S.L.O.", I'm completely stumped. The only use of that acronym I can find from the 1870s is San Luis Obispo, the county and city in California. An individual's initials? Sxxx Line Officer? Any thoughts or information would be appreciated.

opoefc · #2 08-18-2014, 05:31 PM

Welcome to the Forum. Do you know where your father got the gun? The gun was shipped probably to Schuyler & Hartley if it has the 1874-78 stamp , however it might have been a special order and the "D.A****ssell, SLO" engraving was done at the factory. Let us know what the historical letter shows. I don't see any connection with the two different Ft. D.A****ssells ( Wyo. & Texas ) and the inscription. A member of the military would not have been likely to seek a non military caliber or weapon as their personal sidearm, and the gun's not a target model , so D.A****ssell was not using the gun for match shooting. There are probably 100s of people with the name D.A****ssell that lived in the years between when this gun was made and when your father got the gun. Ed.

JTChampe · #3 08-19-2014, 03:04 AM

He traded for it 25-30 years ago with another collector in Michigan. I had considered the possibility that the 'D. A. Russell' of the inscription was not the frontier cavalry post, if for no other reason than the fact the inscription doesn't begin with 'Ft.' Looking forward to receiving the letter from S&W.