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S&W Antiques S&W Lever Action Pistols, Tip-Up Revolvers, ALL Top-Break Revolvers, and ALL Single Shots


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  #1  
Old 10-08-2016, 05:45 PM
Markyw Markyw is offline
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Ok, the first out was an intro and now onto the real reason I joined this forum.

I have been offered a lovely antique pistol, but know nothing about pistols. Reading through the information here about what is required to allow people to hazard a guess at what I have, I compiled the following:

Type is a top-break
It has a 3-digit serial number, no letters, on the butt, the cylinder and the latch and looks to have the same on the back of the barrel, although this is unclear.
The calibre is .44 Russian and there are no calibre markings on the barrel.
The barrel length is 6.5".
The rear sight is fixed.

There is a strain screw, no butt swivel or lanyard ring and the frame appears to have 5 screws.

Other information:
There appear to be no markings under the grips and they do not appear to have been off for a while. There is a number 37 stamped into the butt of the grip. The latest patent date on the top of the barrel is 1880.



Any information you can give me would be much appreciated.

Regards

Mark
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Old 10-08-2016, 07:24 PM
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Welcome to the Forum, Mark.
Sounds like you might have a First Model 44 DA and by the SN, a first year production.
You don't mention if its a Single or Double Action; Single means you have to pull back the Hammer to cock the Gun and rotate the Cylinder for each shot; Double Action means the Gun will cycle by doing nothing more than pulling the Trigger. By your last Patent Date, I'd guess its a DA.
Some photos would be of help too. The '37' could be a 'Rack No.' - something the owner of the Gun; like a Police Dept. or Security Firm, etc. put there as a unique ID No. for official purposes. Not something S&W would have put there. Que: Real Experts if I'm off the mark here!
Matching Numbers are a good sign and if it has lots of good Finish; it could be quite Collectable. These aren't in the realm of the Older Single Action Big Frame Guns but seem to be increasing in Value.
As to a fair price; minimum of some very clear, detailed pics and a report on Bore and Action Cond. would be needed.
Hope that helps; there will be people with more knowledge along soon to fill in any gaps I may have missed.
And if you get; Congratulations!!
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Old 10-08-2016, 07:44 PM
opoefc opoefc is offline
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Welcome to the Forum, as said above, we need good photos from all angles and clear shots of all markings and numbers. The features you describe fit several models, so help us help you with photos. Ed.
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Old 10-08-2016, 07:52 PM
mmaher94087 mmaher94087 is offline
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Photo shows a Single Action, New Model #3 in nice condition.
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Old 10-08-2016, 08:28 PM
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What is the asking price on this one? I should think that somewhere in the $1,000 to $1,200 range would be about fair, given the photograph of the New Model # 3 you provided. Anything more would be close to full retail; anything less would be a bargain. This is, provided there are matching numbers in all locations. There will be a serial number on the latch, the butt (frame), the cylinder and the barrel; these should all match. Also, target models contained a front blade that was numbered to the gun, but I don't think that applies to a standard model, and removal of the front blade is not recommended! I think the grips appear to be wooden, and a serial number would likely be stamped on the inside of one of the grips. I would get a letter on this one, if I were you.

Note: From the photograph provided, I would say there is approximately 80% original finish, and a better term for this firearm would be a revolver, instead of a pistol.

Last edited by mrcvs; 10-08-2016 at 08:39 PM.
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Old 10-09-2016, 03:10 AM
Markyw Markyw is offline
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Thanks for the replies. It is a single action. The blue on the outside appears to be worn as if it was regularly holstered, while the blue on the back of the cylinder and on the frame underneath the cylinder is pristine.
The bore is also pristine, like it was hardly fired and as I said, I could not see any markings under the grips. The grips are wooden and there seems to be a very faint S&W logo (or something) on the circular part, but worn.

I think I should import from the US, as this is somewhere around £2000 here in the U.K.!

Will post more pictures later.

Mark
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Old 10-09-2016, 03:18 AM
Nose Dive Nose Dive is offline
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IT'S A "SWEETIE"!!! GET'ET!!!!

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Cheap, Fast, Good. Kindly pick two.
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Old 10-09-2016, 04:46 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mmaher94087 View Post
Photo shows a Single Action, New Model #3 in nice condition.
No picture coming up in my browser or it would have been an easy I.D.

The 1880 patent coupled with the low SN didn't gel for me as NM, but there you go!

Still cant see any picture but it sounds like a beaut !!
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Old 10-09-2016, 07:00 AM
mrcvs mrcvs is offline
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What is the asking price? £2000 is slightly greater than $2600 these days. I know this is what they bring in the UK, but not this high in the States. So, yes, I should think it is likely more economical to import.
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Old 10-09-2016, 03:37 PM
Markyw Markyw is offline
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Ok guys, created a photobucket album and made it public:

S&W Model 3 44 Russian

Hope this helps. As I get a chance to take any more pictures, I will upload them here.

I parted with the asking price in the end. I appreciate that this is steep when compared to the USA, but found out today that to import a single pistol can cost upwards of £900 / $1100 due to import costs, paperwork, etc., so only dealers importing numbers of pistols can make this work financially.

@mrcvs - £2000 is about $2400 post BREXIT

Anyway, hope the pictures shed some more light on what I now own

Regards

Mark

Last edited by Markyw; 10-09-2016 at 04:51 PM.
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Old 10-09-2016, 05:43 PM
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Just so you don't overpay, Friday's Wall Street Journal quotes the pound sterling at $1.2615, or, conversely, it takes .7927 pound sterling to purchase 1 American dollar.

So...from the photographs you provided, I would be most pleased to own that particular NM #3 revolver. If, as you say, this would cost 2,000 pounds in the UK, that would be $2,523.00. To import, you state it would cost 900 pounds, which is $1135.35. Since 2,000 pounds does seem about right for what something like this might bring in the UK these days, that is $2,523.00, as stated above. Less importation fees yields the difference between $2,523.00 and $1135.35, or $1,387.65. So, obviously, if you can get it for $1,387.65, or less, it, financially, would make sense. To "make it worth your while" puts you in the $1,000 to $1,200 range, my opinion as to what a "fair" purchase price would be for this revolver, a bit below full retail.

So, there you go! And I am by no means not an accountant at all, so time to take my arithmetic hat off, for now!
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Old 10-09-2016, 06:23 PM
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Admin Delete if not allowed.(Auction has ended)

Smith & Wesson #3 Revolver, .4... Auctions Online | Proxibid

This one went this morning for $952 including Buyer's Premium at Auction. Oddball Front Sight and likely a Re-Finish, otherwise could be a sound Gun.

Good Price? Full Retail/Wholesale, somewhere in between?

What are people's thoughts on this?

Last edited by sw44russ; 10-09-2016 at 06:28 PM.
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Old 10-09-2016, 06:51 PM
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About right, maybe a little high for a so-so refinish.
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Old 10-09-2016, 09:07 PM
mrcvs mrcvs is offline
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What makes you think it is refinished? The photo quality is not the best, but it didn't seem refinished to me. At $952, a good price if original; if refinished, then too high.
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Old 10-09-2016, 09:17 PM
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Quote:
What makes you think it is refinished?
The rounding of the sideplate seam, the dishing around the various screw and pin holes, the general "softness" of the edges on the frame and the partial weakness in the barrel markings.
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Old 10-09-2016, 10:15 PM
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I could not being up the later photos, just the first one on my phone. Now that I look at it again, the side plate seam appears too prominent, suggesting a reblue. I did notice the centre side plate screw seemed a bit odd, and, upon reviewing it again, it does appear to be dished. Good eye! Again, I have only one photograph to assess, but this is a great example of something that initially appears to be fairly decent...really isn't.
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Old 10-10-2016, 02:17 AM
Markyw Markyw is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrcvs View Post
Just so you don't overpay, Friday's Wall Street Journal quotes the pound sterling at $1.2615, or, conversely, it takes .7927 pound sterling to purchase 1 American dollar.

So...from the photographs you provided, I would be most pleased to own that particular NM #3 revolver. If, as you say, this would cost 2,000 pounds in the UK, that would be $2,523.00. To import, you state it would cost 900 pounds, which is $1135.35. Since 2,000 pounds does seem about right for what something like this might bring in the UK these days, that is $2,523.00, as stated above. Less importation fees yields the difference between $2,523.00 and $1135.35, or $1,387.65. So, obviously, if you can get it for $1,387.65, or less, it, financially, would make sense. To "make it worth your while" puts you in the $1,000 to $1,200 range, my opinion as to what a "fair" purchase price would be for this revolver, a bit below full retail.

So, there you go! And I am by no means not an accountant at all, so time to take my arithmetic hat off, for now!
Nice hat and thanks for taking the time to walk through this. There are a few other model 3s for sale in the UK, all with a worse bore than mine and all priced from a little to a lot higher. I don't think I'll lose out on this one and will definitely consider importing myself next time. When I do, I'll ask for advice here, as it seems a font of relevant knowledge.

Regards

Mark
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