I was willed a Model 3 1st model about 50 years ago. It has always had the ejector piece missing, and I have always wanted to have it repaired. Just a call out to Chris Hirsch who expertly repaired it reasonably. So glad to have it working perfectly. I don't know what it's worth, but it's worth a lot to me. It was issued to my grandmas grandpa, or great grandpa, not sure. I just made the display board.

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Welcome to the Smith & Wesson Forum. This is certainly an interesting post, especially for a first post. How about more detailed pictures and discussion of the repair and more information about your descendant and their history of use of this interesting firearm?

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

I have a very special NM #3 Target which had a broken latch. Worse yet, there's a very real possibility I'm the one who broke it.

Having set out to get it fixed, I encountered all sorts of folks who'd "like to take a look at it", who "think I can fix it", and who "would certainly like to give it a try". Then I found about Chis. He said "I'm sure I can fix it."

He didn't say he could fix it perfectly---as good as new---so you'd never know it was ever broken--much less broken and fixed---he just did it-perfectly---as good as new----so you'd never know it was broken---much less broken and fixed. And he did it for just a wee bit less than half of what it cost to ship/insure it down and back---and he did it like right now!!

If you have any ailing antiques, he's your doctor.

Ralph Tremaine

Yeah, he's the man. Very impressed. As far as the history behind mine, unfortunately all I know is what my grandma told me as a kid, I don't even know his name, nor does even her own son. All she told me is it was issued to her great or great great grandpa, can't remember which. She said if I graduated high school she would give it to me if I promised not to sell it. As far as the repair he put that little piece on the bottom of that wheel that pushes up the star wheel. The pistol works perfectly now. I do have a letter from Jinks. It was made in 1870. Fires .44 American. I would love to know the name of the guy this was issued to since I'm related. Don't know how to find out though.

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I'm not clear if you've had the gun for 50 years and just recently had it repaired? If so, you're a more patient man than me!
Can you provide details on the serial number and assembly numbers if it's a complete original? Any US markings? In my opinion, anyone holding an original, working condition Model 3 American should own a copy of Charles W. Pate's book "Smith & Wesson American Model in U.S.. and Foreign Service" so you can learn as much as you can about them.

Great revolver and that display board is a cool way to display it ,what service or lawenforcementment agency or maybe security firm did your great grandpa work for do you know ? Anyway it's a cool peice thanks for posting for us to see.

First, welcome to the forum.

The gun is from 1870 so roughly about 147 years old. Assuming about 25 years per generation then this gun should have seen about 5 or 6 generations in your family. You, your father and your grandmother would make 3. Her father would be 4 and her grandfather would make 5. So according to my rough calculations, it would most likely be your great, great grandfather. Also if it came down through your grandmothers family then the surname would not be yours unless you live in Maine or the high mountains of the south.

It's too bad that you didn't have your grandmother write down the history while she was still living, assuming that she has passed.

You should be able to trace your family using birth and death/census records but since you are not absolutely sure which branch of your family tree it traveled down it may never be known who the original owner was. You could certainly narrow it down to a few possibles.

I am lucky that the ones that came to me were from two grandfathers and my father so I know the history. Since my two daughters live in CA and NJ respectively, I am not sure if my collection will stay in the family as the grandchildren range in age from 10 years to one month and so far no interest in guns has been promoted or shown.

Still, I shall probably write down what I know so that if it ever does stay in the family, future generations will know the story.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Just to clear up a couple questions asked. I'm 57 and was told as a little kid it would be mine. It became in my possession at 18. I've had many many guns in my life so since I can't find ammo I never really thought about repairing it until recently. As far as markings, I have attached a pic. It also says TO on the back of the cylinder, and a small A on the left side. I do know my relative was issued through the military. Serial #1686.

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Serial number 1686 was one of the original 1000 gun order issued to the U.S. Army. The US stamp and the A ( for the inspector Ainsworth ) are appropriate for your revolver. You probably have several more stamps including P to show it was proof fired. The assembly number should match other locations on the gun if everything is original.
I would suggest getting it lettered from Roy Jinks. Quite a history on the gun but no way to trace its assignment to your relatives unfortunately.

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! That's quite an heirloom! And, quite valuable, as well. I suppose somewhere there is a list of cavalry troops around that time where you could search for a family name, presuming your relative was in the cavalry. Or, you could use Ancestry.com to trace your Grandmother's family tree. No telling where that might lead.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

Thanks so much for everyones feedback. Unfortunately I've not been able to pinpoint a value as I can't really find another like it that's sold. If anyone has an opinion I would appreciate it. I don't find any other markings other than what I mentioned earlier, but maybe I don't know where to look. I think I will do the ancestery thing. I do have it lettered from Jinks.

US issued American Models come up for sale at auctions occasionally, etc. plus privates sales, and their prices are documented in several data bases kept by S&WCA members. If your gun has visible cartouches on the stocks and the stocks are numbered to the gun ( #1686 ), the value is probably in the low mid 4 figures. Condition is everything when it comes to value for these military S&Ws, as seldom do you find any with their original finish left, either blue or nickel. Minty original guns can reach $20K. The national archives has inventory records for the various Army regiments issued American Model revolvers, as regulations required that each time there was a change of command the incoming CO had to sign for the weapons in the Regiments inventory, which are listed by model & serial number. Is possible there's a record of ser. # 1686 assigned to a particular regiment. Some years ago the Springfield Research Service published some of the Archival records for military firearms and their publications list the American models they found listed in the regimental records. Ed.