New Model #3 Frontier Sent to Japan

Boulder350 · #1 05-06-2020, 05:09 PM

I have an opportunity to buy a Frontier NM#3 that was sent to Japan per the letter from Roy Jinks. Attached is a picture of the item. The serial number is 1xxx. The letter states it was converted to 44 Russian.

I have read about these but have not seen a documented one. He is asking $4000 for it. Any advice on what to look for on it and if the price is fair? Do they usually have mismatched serial numbers?

Thanks

iby · #2 05-07-2020, 12:16 AM

Mis matched cylinders are common on Japanese NM3's
Better pics need for guesstimate on value.
4k is not going to be a steal

Boulder350 · #3 05-07-2020, 12:48 AM

Thanks iby. For now this is the only other picture I have. The side plate doesn't fit properly so im thinking it may be from another gun.

Oyeboteb · #4 05-07-2020, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boulder350

Thanks iby. For now this is the only other picture I have. The side plate doesn't fit properly so im thinking it may be from another gun.

It sounds to me like this example has maybe too many problems -

- Possible Replaced Side Plate which does not fit properly.

- Converted from .44 WCF to .44 Russian

- Finish looks doubtful from here, but closer images would help.

Some of the Japan New Model 3s I have seen, looked to my own Eye to have old dullish mate Arsenal Finish of some kind.

Better, natural daylight indirect outdoor Light, close up images would really help, if you can get them - images of Barrel Rib Texts, Side Plate...general right side left side...

opoefc · #5 05-07-2020, 02:01 AM

There's more than one S&W "sent to Japan" that never got there. Roy uses what the records say when he writes a letter, which is correct, but some of the dealers that ordered the gun for a Japan delivery,, for whatever reason diverted the gun from their original Japanese purchase order to another buyer, often someone in Australia. Guns actually delivered to Japan received Japanese markings ( Navy, Army, Police, Imperial guards, etc ) and those guns are seen quite often with mismatched parts and sometimes markings of later owners who captured them from the Japanese during various military conflicts ( Russian Chinese, Koreans, Viet Namese, etc. ) The comment about the conversion from 44-40 to .44Russian is interesting. $4K is way beyond the value of this gun.
Ed.

Boulder350 · #6 05-07-2020, 08:50 AM

Thanks for the comments guys. I have seen pictures of a number of the guns that started life as 44 russian and were listed as being shipped to Japan, but have never seen one of the 786 that started life as the Frontier model in 44-40 and were converted to 44 Russian. The book by Niel and Jinks describes this in more detail. I was thinking it would be worth in the upper $2k range. I will ask for more pictures.

Boulder350 · #7 05-07-2020, 10:48 PM

Here are a few more pictures of the gun. It doesn't look like a re-blued gun to me, but I have not seen many of these guns that were shipped to Japan. Of the 11,266 revolvers reported to be shipped to Japan, only 7% were the converted Frontiers (numbers based on a Journal article from Nov '74).

The owner has confirmed the numbers match on the frame, latch, cylinder, and grip. He can't find the number on the barrel.

iby · #8 05-07-2020, 11:47 PM

Nice grips
I see no obvious refinish

Oyeboteb · #9 05-09-2020, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boulder350

Here are a few more pictures of the gun. It doesn't look like a re-blued gun to me, but I have not seen many of these guns that were shipped to Japan. Of the 11,266 revolvers reported to be shipped to Japan, only 7% were the converted Frontiers (numbers based on a Journal article from Nov '74).

The owner has confirmed the numbers match on the frame, latch, cylinder, and grip. He can't find the number on the barrel.

Finish looks original to me also with these better images.

Side plate does look a little "Plum" color though, or if not Plum, then, discontinuous with the surrounding finish anyway, which is odd.