Smith Wesson Model 3 American lettered

revnig · #1 03-08-2016, 05:39 PM

I've attached photos and of the S&W letter this Smith Model 3 American 8" revolver. The letter pretty much explains but I have a couple of questions.

I wonder if all these were shipped with a cut for shoulder stock?

Also, it was shipped with a nickel finish but can't determine if it's been refinished along the way. Don't know if the photos are detailed enough.

Thank you.

gmborkovic · #2 03-08-2016, 06:04 PM

From pics:
1. grips re-fin
2. nic re-done, hammer and trig and, etc should not be nic..
3. Look at side plate seam. Rounded.
Only working from a pic. Could be wrong, but not.

revnig · #3 03-08-2016, 06:15 PM

Thank you very much. Thought so.

glowe · #4 03-08-2016, 06:35 PM

Two things always to look for when determining refinish is the fit of the sideplate, which is originally done so well as to not hardly see the seam, and, as Mike states plated hammer and trigger. There are a very few documented full plate S&Ws out there, but they are rare.

opoefc · #5 03-08-2016, 07:13 PM

..." I wonder if all of these were shipped with a cut for shoulder stock ?... The letter says 10 of the 50, right ? So, the answer is "No." The gun has been poorly finished, as said above but still, it is what it is. Whether it was originally blue, or nickel, would take a closer examination of all the stamping and marks on the parts and under the grips. Do you have the shoulder stock ? Note that Roy's letter says " probably sold..." That's because the records on the American Models are vague and bunched in groups so he has to use extrapolated dates and serial numbers to give us his best guess as to what is indicated. Ed.

crossv · #6 03-08-2016, 07:15 PM

This is what original nickel looks like on this era gun. This one is actually an Old Old Model Russian versus American. What is rare is the original holster shipped with it in 1874. Model 3's cut for stock are not common at all.

revnig · #7 03-10-2016, 04:47 PM

thanks for the answers.

model3sw · #8 10-19-2017, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revnig

I've attached photos and of the S&W letter this Smith Model 3 American 8" revolver. The letter pretty much explains but I have a couple of questions.

I wonder if all these were shipped with a cut for shoulder stock?

Also, it was shipped with a nickel finish but can't determine if it's been refinished along the way. Don't know if the photos are detailed enough.

Thank you.

I have 27079 Factory cut for stock. Now I have to pull out my letter to see if it shipped in the same batch. Mine is an older refinish just about in the same condition as yours. I purchased it only because I had never seen one before in ANY condition.

mmaher94087 · #9 10-19-2017, 11:06 PM

"There are a very few documented full plate S&Ws out there, but they are rare." A very true statement. S&W farmed out the plating at this time. Some are found with everything plated, including hammers, triggers, barrel latches and guards. The re-plate "tell" is the fit/rounded edges of the side plate. This is a very scarce example of a stocked American and is still a collectible example.

model3sw · #10 10-20-2017, 12:11 AM

I'll drop some pix here next chance I get but it is far from my nicest American.

I have another 2nd American in the 168xx range that is original nickel. Nickel is thinning but not peeling. A few rubbed through spots but all edges are sharp and crisp. Locks up TIGHT TIGHT. Magnificent.

I just pulled it out of a RIG-wrap I had it in since the 1990s. It is tight and crisp on a perfect, tight, un-buggered frame. I just took it out yesterday for the first time in near 20 years.

glowe · #11 10-20-2017, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmaher94087

"There are a very few documented full plate S&Ws out there, but they are rare." A very true statement. S&W farmed out the plating at this time. Some are found with everything plated, including hammers, triggers, barrel latches and guards . . .

That explains why, years ago, when I bought a Model 1 1/2, 1st and Jim Supica, OTS, stated he believed it was an original full plate gun. It was shipped in 1867 with plated hammer, trigger, and ejector rod.

mmaher94087 · #12 10-20-2017, 11:42 AM

Gary, spot on! Nice example.

model3sw · #13 10-20-2017, 06:19 PM

Here is just 2 quick pix of 27079. "was probably sold on 12/30/1873" delivered to M.W. Robinson, NYC (big surprise there).

"This revolver was shipped with an 8 inch barrel, nickel finish and smooth walnut grips.(**) This revolver was cut for a S&W shoulder stock, but none were shipped with the revolver"

Also: 1 of 200 in the shipment was a mix of both blue and nickel revolvers.

No cracks about my quick, point and shoot digital pix.

(**) footnote: THAT is what is reads "GRIPS", so any cracks about "grips" file it with Roy, thankyaverymuch.

The OP's American 2nd # 27348 and mine #27079, shipped a few weeks apart from each other, now meet up 144 years later with the exact same finish in just about the same condition makes me wonder. Looks like they were both refinished by "the" same guy.

model3sw · #14 10-20-2017, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossv

This is what original nickel looks like on this era gun. This one is actually an Old Old Model Russian versus American. What is rare is the original holster shipped with it in 1874. Model 3's cut for stock are not common at all.

That is just super sweet. last time I saw one that sweet was in Gary Garbrecht's collection. Was that one of Gary's? If so, I was there when he purchased in in Las Vegas about 1999 and how much he paid for it at that time, was quite a bit of $$.

I'm so relieved when nice S&Ws end up in the hands of good guardians.

crossv · #15 10-20-2017, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crossv

This is what original nickel looks like on this era gun. This one is actually an Old Old Model Russian versus American. What is rare is the original holster shipped with it in 1874. .

This one was on Lynn's "Mirror Image" display at Charlotte right next to your great display case. It has been lovingly cared for more than 60 years right from the bush so to speak. It came from the sock drawer of a mining mansion in Parral, Chihuahua about 1953. Extremely unlikely to have ever been fired.

cb

Wiregrassguy · #16 10-21-2017, 08:46 AM

Quote:

This one was on Lynn's "Mirror Image" display at Charlotte right next to your great display case.

I thought I had seen it before. That was an amazing display! As was that Victorian stained glass display case.