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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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Old 04-20-2017, 06:22 PM
HeavyB HeavyB is offline
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Default Want to see something cool?

Hi Guys I am new to the forum, and thought I would join after getting my letter back from Mr. Jinks about this pistol and getting excited. It is a target pistol that belonged to Walter Winans. I would love to hear feedback.
Thanks!
Bill
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Old 04-20-2017, 06:37 PM
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Welcome to the forum.

One of the reasons that getting a factory letter is so important. You just never know who owned a gun in years past.

WW could have just as easily been Willy Wombat.

Please tell us the back story. How did you find it? Was it advertised as a Walter Winans gun or did you only find it out after you got the letter from Roy?

Will you shoot it or just keep it in the safe?

Any significance to the 450? Score maybe.
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Old 04-20-2017, 06:59 PM
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Very cool. The one in this link looks like it.

Welcome to the forum. You sure know how to make an entrance.

Bonhams : A fine .450 'New Model no. 3' revolver by Smith & Wesson, no. 27897 formerly the property of Walter Winans

Revolver Owned By The World’s Greatest Marksman For Sale At Bonhams | Survival

Using your revolver as an excuse to learn about him. Quite a unique renaissance man. Represented the USA and won a gold medal in tho Olympics without yet having set foot in America. Accomplished artist and horse breeder. He died of a heart attack, while winning a horse race. This is video before that last race.


Thanks for sharing.

Last edited by bigwheelzip; 04-20-2017 at 08:00 PM.
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Old 04-20-2017, 07:15 PM
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So you got excited, did you? Here's hoping you stay that way----it's good for what ails you-------no matter what ails you!

I stumbled upon what turned out to be a similar (famous person) gun a while back---only bought it because it was better than the one I had at home. I gave it a bath, and put it on the shelf.

Then the letter arrived. There was one line in particular: "This is a very important revolver." I'm still excited!!

Ralph Tremaine

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Old 04-20-2017, 07:27 PM
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When I logged in your letter request, it was after midnight. I looked up the shipping records. on your serial number. There it was, Walter Winans. I was so excited I woke up my wife, Louise. She got excited as well, but then again she is a collector as well. Congratulations on a truly historic piece.
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Old 04-20-2017, 09:14 PM
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Welcome aboard, and congratulations on a fabulous acquisition.

Stick around, you'll like it here.
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Old 04-20-2017, 09:59 PM
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It is my belief that Walter Winans purchased or ordered and received more revolvers than the records at the factory indicate were personally sent to him. Several years ago, I wrote a Journal article about a NM#3 Target revolver, caliber .45 Schofield, serial number 28035, shipped to Winan's dealer, W.C.Scott & Sons, Birmingham, England on Sept 4, 1893. Winan shot a world record target at Bisley in 1897 using a NM#3 Target in .45 Schofield caliber. Unfortunately the serial number of that .45 Schofield caliber revolver was not recorded at Bisley. The gun does not letter as shipped to Winans, just to his dealer. Serial number 28037 does letter as shipped to Winans, and was perhaps in the same shipment as 28035, however. I have notes on several Winan guns, such as ser. #s 28021 through 29024 all were shipped to Winan's order. Many Winan guns have his "W W" after market added on the back strap & the caliber, as that was a convenient way to quickly identify guns he used to shoot in matches. I can well imagine Winans walking into Scott's gun store and hearing " Mr. Winans, your order from S&W has arrived together with a large shipment of S&W Target revolvers" and he replying " I'll take 'em all ! " Ed.
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Old 04-20-2017, 10:07 PM
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Welcome aboard, and Holy Mackerel!!

As BigWheel says, you sure know how to make an entrance!!

Stick around, you'll like it here.

Best Regards, Les
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Old 04-21-2017, 09:23 AM
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Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!
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Old 04-21-2017, 10:33 AM
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Agreed- that's COOL!
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Old 04-21-2017, 11:00 AM
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Default Walter Winans info

Here is info from USRA Supplementary report of 1908 booklet. Walter Winans donated the bronze cast "Bronco Buster" in Oct. 1908 for the new Match E Military Revolver Team Match [for 1st place, to be re-presented to the winning club each year]. At the time estimated to be worth $500.00. He also traveled to London with the 1908 USA Olympic revolver & pistol team & appears in the team photo, far left, back row. In new members list for 1907-08 is the only new member from foreign country; Kent, England. It should be noted he is the only new member of the few hundred listed, as being "life member".
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:02 PM
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He also traveled to London with the 1908 USA Olympic revolver & pistol team...
Team member I.R. Calkins (in photo) has a shooting connection to fellow Springfielder Albert Woodworth, whose acclaimed history was recently connected to revolvers presented here by forum member 410bore.

Love the way these historical threads mesh.
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:06 PM
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Thanks for the warm welcome! (And thanks for the kind words Don Mundell!) I got the pistol in trade for some work I did for a guy in CO - and only suspected it may have been Walter Winans after I saw mention of him while researching the pistol in The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson book. I couldn't get TOO excited until the letter arrived. (I mean, could have been Willy Wonka!) And what a great learning experience! Learning about Walter has been a lot of fun - successful business man, horse breeder, Olympic shooting champ, and died in a horse race! Couldn't have picked a better way to go. I would love to shoot this thing, veeeery carefully.
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:08 PM
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Bigwheelzip thanks for posting that video that is fantastic!
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:11 PM
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And for the Bonham's link! Only other one I have ever seen sell. Do you think the fact it was sold overseas affected the gavel price? I have no idea what I should value mine for insurance. Or to sell some day down the road.
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:24 PM
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Thanks for the warm welcome! (And thanks for the kind words Don Mundell!) I got the pistol in trade for some work I did for a guy in CO - and only suspected it may have been Walter Winans after I saw mention of him while researching the pistol in The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson book. I couldn't get TOO excited until the letter arrived. (I mean, could have been Willy Wonka!) And what a great learning experience! Learning about Walter has been a lot of fun - successful business man, horse breeder, Olympic shooting champ, and died in a horse race! Couldn't have picked a better way to go. I would love to shoot this thing, veeeery carefully.
If you got it for doing some work, I'll mow your lawn every week for the next 25 years. Just send me the revolver. You can trust me, I'm not like the others.
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:28 PM
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Ahahaha! Don! Thanks for that, best laugh I had all day!
Damn I hate cutting grass....
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:29 PM
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And Don, In case I did not mention it, I am very pleased with how fast you got my letters out on the pistol. In case no one thanked you today for what you do, thank you.
Bill
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Old 04-21-2017, 05:45 PM
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And for the Bonham's link! Only other one I have ever seen sell. Do you think the fact it was sold overseas affected the gavel price? I have no idea what I should value mine for insurance. Or to sell some day down the road.
Sorry, I'm completely uninformed about the monetary value of collectibles. I'm strictly a voyeur in this section of the forum, appreciating the history, and trying to glean a little knowledge for it's own sake.
The back story on some of these original owners traces a golden age of adventure and innovation, to which we owe much.
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Old 04-23-2017, 10:56 AM
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Here is Dr. Walter Burton Russell's Winan's Trophy medal he was awarded in 1926. Dr. Russell was one of the best shooters in the Springfield Revolver Club. In all of the Match Par shoots, he shot against Dr. Calkins.
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Old 04-24-2017, 05:43 PM
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I saw the Bonham's auction info, but since it was in England, I wondered if a gun like this might sell for more in the states? Would anyone have any idea what something like this might be valued at? Or heard of another sell in the US to reference? Thanks for all of the great posts and info! Glad I joined.
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Old 04-24-2017, 07:18 PM
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I feel, and it's just my guess, a Winan's gun here on this side of the pond would sell for $15,000 and up.
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Old 04-24-2017, 09:28 PM
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I would think more like $15,050.
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Old 04-24-2017, 11:51 PM
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I would think more like $15,050.
$15,100. Do I hear $15,150?
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Old 04-25-2017, 12:16 PM
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HAHAA! Those were some easy posts to "LIKE"! - As I try and stick my eyes back into my head - now guys, you aren't just picking on the new guy, (that's FNG if you were military) and pulling my leg, are you?
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Old 04-25-2017, 12:23 PM
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HAHAA! Those were some easy posts to "LIKE"! - As I try and stick my eyes back into my head - now guys, you aren't just picking on the new guy, (that's FNG if you were military) and pulling my leg, are you?
If you think I'm pulling your leg, put up for sale. I'm not a player as it isn't what I collect. You'll be surprised. I hope you realize just what you have!
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Old 04-25-2017, 12:26 PM
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Holy **** maybe I had better rethink this thing...
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Old 04-25-2017, 01:02 PM
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Check your PM inbox. You probably already have several offers...
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Old 04-25-2017, 01:06 PM
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What a great find. I also share in your excitement. Thanks for posting and Welcome to the forum from California.
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Old 04-25-2017, 04:48 PM
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I was kidding but Don was not. He doesn't have a sense of humor.......
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Old 04-25-2017, 07:27 PM
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As my younger sister used to say, "Cool beans."
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