S&W 3rd M. American

MarshallKuykendall · #1 12-30-2019, 05:49 PM

Have just acquired a 3rd M. American--Ser. # 18686 with the name "LOUIS TIMMER" on the backstrap. Bought the gun thru Rock Island Auctions--Said it had come out of the Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.

Timmer (1835-1919) was a hotel owner and manager in San Antonio, Albuquerque and Silver City, NM.

Does anyone have any knowledge of this gun?

MEK

iby · #2 12-31-2019, 12:39 AM

No extra input but it is pretty cool.

opoefc · #3 01-01-2020, 01:52 AM

I vaguely remember the gun being in Gerry's collection. We used to have a monthly meeting at Paul Doyle's home with about a dozen Southern California S&W collectors, including Gerry, where we had "Show & Tells" and displayed interesting S&Ws from our respective collections. Gerry always brought primo specimens. This was probably 30 yrs. ago. Ed.

MarshallKuykendall · #4 01-03-2020, 05:43 PM

Thank you, Ed,
Anything else you can remember? Also, how long does it take to get a S&W Letter--made my request on 8 Dec.
MEK

Rick Bowles · #5 01-05-2020, 12:52 PM

Sounds like the S&W Historical Foundation might have some info. Get in touch with Bill Cross.

MarshallKuykendall · #6 01-06-2020, 05:59 PM

How do I get in touch with Bill Cross---and, how long does it take to get a S&W Letter back on my gun? Thanks,
MEK

6518John · #7 01-06-2020, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarshallKuykendall

How do I get in touch with Bill Cross---and, how long does it take to get a S&W Letter back on my gun? Thanks,
MEK

Bill is Doc44.

Books · #8 01-08-2020, 10:58 AM

Letters are running about 6 weeks currently.

Books

sspierce8 · #9 02-01-2020, 07:23 PM

Would a model 3 American have that high of a serial number? They only made 1,000 of them I thought, and mine is 4 digits.

glowe · #10 02-01-2020, 07:46 PM

They made over 30,000 Americans, 32,800 to be exact. The 1,000 you are referring might be the number of 44 Americans sold to the US Army.

Welcome to the Forum MEK. There was no 3rd Model American, only 1st & 2nd.

model3sw · #11 02-01-2020, 09:30 PM

IIRC Around SN 6500-7000 ( could be a bit higher and lower as well) were "Transition" models, however, Gary is correct ... there were only 1st and 2nd model Americans.

Don't get the Americans confused with the "Russian" models (of which the 1st model Russian is very, very similar to the American 1st). There were 3, legitimate "Russian" models. Only 2 American models, with some "Transitions" in between.

mmaher94087 · #12 02-01-2020, 10:39 PM

"..3rd Model American, only 1st & 2nd." Maybe the reference was to the #3 frame size?

sspierce8 · #13 02-03-2020, 11:09 AM

Yes, you are correct. I think I misunderstood. The first 1,000 were sold to the military. That's what mine is hence the low serial number. Sorry about that.