I recently picked this up and just trying to get a little info on it. I can't find a model number or caliber any where in it. Finish I'd ruff. Top of barrel has some patent info and dates with a reissue July 25 1871.

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It's rusty and beat up - looks like somebody got hit with the trigger guard - but it is a No 3 New Model.
It looks like the long cylinder - is it 1 7/16" or 1 9/16"?
If it is, things could get very interesting.

Caliber is probably still .44 Russian but might be .44-40 or in great rarity .38-40.

Can you read a serial number?

It is 1 9/16" only number on it is 661 on the bottom of the gun handle and that numbers in pretty good condition you can tell it's only a 3 digit number. How do I figured out what caliber it is and what variation?

Order a factory historical letter and it will tell you the caliber of the gun when it was shipped, or get a handful of various caliber cartridges and try them in the cylinder. New Model No. 3s came in so many different calibers it can be challenging to be sure you can identify a particular gun's caliber, unless it's a target model in .32/44 or .38/44 which were marked on the barrel with the caliber. Your gun is not a target model. Most were 44 S&W Russian, however some were 44-40 and various 45 calibers ( .45 Schofield, .45 Eley, .455 Webley, etc. ) You can tell by eyeballing it if it is .38-40 cal. Ed.

How do I order the Factory historical letter?

On Smith & Wessons site it show firearm history temporarily not available

New requests will be accepted sometime during the month of July 2016; there should be an update to the factory web page when that occurs.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

"--------------unless it's a target model in .32/44 or .38/44 which were marked on the barrel with the caliber." Huh?!

Neither my .32/44 (#2163) nor my .38/44 (#1610) is caliber marked on the barrel. (??)

Now, if you were referring only to later guns (with the longer cylinder), then I have #3914, and it is marked----"38 WINCHESTER CTG". Unfortunately, that's the only place the caliber appears----the factory has no idea what the caliber is. They know the serial numbers around this one are all .38/44's---and they know #3914 "appears to be a special order for one unit-------."

Ralph Tremaine

Texasdogman,

Not that I'm stating this as definitive fact...Although given the 1 9/16" Cyl. Length & Serial No. of (661)...I'm going to state with reasonable certainty...I believe you'll find Your Revolver is most likely a NM#3 Frontier SA chambered for the .44-40 (.44 WCF) Cartridge!! Reason being...Frontier NM#3 Single-Actions all had 1 9/16" Cylinders & were Serial Numbered in their own Range...And the Serial No. of Your Revolver falls well within that Range!!

The easiest way to confirm this with some certainty is to post a photo of inside the Chambers...That is if they aren't too corroded to get a clear indication of the Chambering!!

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Masterpiece

At the top of this page click on downloads. Look for the history letter request form.

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Don Mundell

3 digit serial with short extractor my moneys on Masterpiece.

Couple pictures of the chamber

Not that I'm stating this as definitive fact...Although given the 1 9/16" Cyl. Length & Serial No. of (661)...I'm going to state with reasonable certainty...I believe you'll find Your Revolver is most likely a NM#3 Frontier SA chambered for the .44-40 (.44 WCF) Cartridge!! Reason being...Frontier NM#3 Single-Actions all had 1 9/16" Cylinders & were Serial Numbered in their own Range...And the Serial No. of Your Revolver falls well within that Range!!

The easiest way to confirm this with some certainty is to post a photo of inside the Chambers...That is if they aren't too corroded to get a clear indication of the Chambering!![/QUOTE]

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I have a similar question. I found a number on the bottom of the handle 7831 - I assume that's the model number but not sure. Says manufactured July 25,1871.. How can I get information on this revolver

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Welcome to the forum you will probably get more replies by starting a new thread instead of replying to a 4 year old one. I believe you have a 44 Double Action 1st Model or possibly a copy of one the number on the bottom of the frame is the serial number. Pictures of the top of the barrel and serial number would help.

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Randy

Just post some well lit images looking into the rear of the Cylinder...so we can see in to the Cylinder chambers.

Service Revolvers would tend to be either .44 Russian, or, .44 - 40 at this point with the introduction of the long Cylinder, but some .38 - 40 were also sold.

And, given one could special order to be in yet other Chamberings, almost anything is possible!

Being able to see in to the Cylinder Chambers, we can likely figure out if it is .44 Russian or .44 - 40 or 38 - 40 anyway...or if it is .455 or .450 Adams.

Serial Number will also be on the face of the Cylinder.

[/QUOTE]


Image needs to have better lighting...

Start a dedicated thread for your Revolver.

We'll go from there then!

Oh my goodness!

I did not even notice this was a 4 year old Thread, Lol...

Oh well, still fun subject-matter!

Could be a 32 s&w. 5 shot cylinder with really short flutes. Need more pictures in a new thread.

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Mark

Yup. .32 DA, 2nd.

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Mike Maher #283