Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Revolvers > S&W Antiques
o

Notices

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


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-10-2020, 07:37 AM
jimmyj's Avatar
jimmyj jimmyj is online now
Member
Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3  
Join Date: May 2003
Location: DUNNELLON, FLORIDA USA
Posts: 11,102
Likes: 1,690
Liked 16,302 Times in 4,231 Posts
Smile Smith and Wesson Number 3

IIRC (?) the #3 came in 1870.
What was the original caliber ?
The U.S. Army purchase a number of them. What was the caliber ?
What issues did the Army have with them in the field that caused them to be withdrawn from inventory ?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-10-2020, 08:01 AM
first-model first-model is offline
SWCA Member
Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,668
Likes: 1,002
Liked 2,321 Times in 774 Posts
Default

The original calibers were .44 Henry Rimfire and .44 S&W (also known as .44 American).

The US Army purchased 1000 (200 nickel and 800 blue) that were chambered in .44 S&W.

Mike
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-10-2020, 11:08 PM
Dhs The IV Dhs The IV is offline
Member
Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3  
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 82
Likes: 2
Liked 99 Times in 33 Posts
Default

The army purchased the ones mentioned above and later the Schofield model 3 which was a little different and came in 45 Schofield. The army seemed to think they were more complicated then the Colt SAA and they were more expensive. They had wanted the Schofield to chamber 45LC, S&W said they could...turns out they couldn’t. There was also something of a scandal around Schofield himself. You know what there’s a lot of interesting things about these old revolvers and I’d encourage you to read up one em. I picked one up a few weeks ago, it has a cut barrel and would probably blow up in my hand if I tried to shoot it but it may be my favorite gun. Just love the history. Would love another in shooting shape.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg BF9995C8-24EF-4B91-96D8-65AB2DA5C2B2.jpg (47.0 KB, 46 views)
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #4  
Old 07-10-2020, 11:42 PM
iby iby is offline
Member
Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3  
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 930
Likes: 2,054
Liked 828 Times in 334 Posts
Default

Your picture shows a 2nd model American
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-11-2020, 10:30 AM
Kurusu's Avatar
Kurusu Kurusu is offline
Absent Comrade
Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3  
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Portugal
Posts: 5,538
Likes: 39,612
Liked 18,061 Times in 4,567 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmyj View Post
IIRC (?) the #3 came in 1870.
What was the original caliber ?
The U.S. Army purchase a number of them. What was the caliber ?
What issues did the Army have with them in the field that caused them to be withdrawn from inventory ?
The original caliber of the #3 was .44 rimfire. The Army purchased them in .44 American for trials.

Main reasons for not being accepted.

1. Not as rugged mechanically as the Colts still in use. Ie. Broken parts. Rust issues.

2. The Army ended up adopting a more powerful .45 Caliber (what we know now as .45 Colt). The # 3 frame wasn't long enough for the cartridge. And Smith & Wesson wasn't very interested in remaking the frame. Even after Major Schofield simplified the #3 design (less moving parts in the ejection, and a redesigned latch that allowed one hand operation). Smith & Wesson produced it in a .45 caliber with a shorter case. The Cavalry bought 5000 of them and got a logistics nightmare. I believe Smith & Wesson was asked to make modifications to allow the .45 Colt to be used, but they declined.

Edit. This info was taken from old "Man at Arms" issues and is cited from memory. There may be some mistakes. I use to have better memory.
__________________
Expect the unexpected

Last edited by Kurusu; 07-11-2020 at 10:36 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-11-2020, 11:06 AM
Dhs The IV Dhs The IV is offline
Member
Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3  
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 82
Likes: 2
Liked 99 Times in 33 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by iby View Post
Your picture shows a 2nd model American
Oh yeah I know I didn’t mean to give the impression I thought it was a Schofield. I just meant I bought an old model 3. I didn’t know much about these guns one when I bought it but I dived right in. So much so I’m considering selling my “modern” guns and starting over with 3s.
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #7  
Old 07-12-2020, 08:36 AM
sspierce8's Avatar
sspierce8 sspierce8 is offline
Member
Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3  
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 97
Likes: 28
Liked 153 Times in 52 Posts
Default

Yup, first 1,000 the military bought has the US stamped on the barrel. I have one that belonged to my GGG grandpa. 44 American. Cool pistol. I never fired it due to no ammo.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-12-2020, 11:34 AM
Oyeboteb Oyeboteb is offline
Member
Smith and Wesson Number 3  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 6
Liked 862 Times in 379 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dhs The IV View Post
The army purchased the ones mentioned above and later the Schofield model 3 which was a little different and came in 45 Schofield. The army seemed to think they were more complicated then the Colt SAA and they were more expensive. They had wanted the Schofield to chamber 45LC, S&W said they could...turns out they couldn’t. There was also something of a scandal around Schofield himself. You know what there’s a lot of interesting things about these old revolvers and I’d encourage you to read up one em. I picked one up a few weeks ago, it has a cut barrel and would probably blow up in my hand if I tried to shoot it but it may be my favorite gun. Just love the history. Would love another in shooting shape.
Why would it blow up in your hand?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-12-2020, 11:44 AM
Dhs The IV Dhs The IV is offline
Member
Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3 Smith and Wesson Number 3  
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 82
Likes: 2
Liked 99 Times in 33 Posts
Default

I’m exaggerating, it’s really not as bad as all that. Timing is pretty good, lock up is no worse then some of my other revolvers. I just have to modify some 44-40 to try it out.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
SMITH & WESSON NEW MODEL NUMBER 3 jackyman S&W Antiques 13 11-13-2018 02:18 AM
Need help with Smith and Wesson Serial number SW32longctg S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 11 02-12-2015 10:33 PM
Need help with Smith and Wesson Serial number SW32longctg S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 6 09-28-2012 03:20 PM
Why are Smith & Wesson number 1's so cheap? David LaPell S&W Antiques 5 05-21-2009 09:53 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:25 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)