Japanese contact

Holgersen63 · #1 02-23-2021, 08:34 PM

Hi There! I recently purchased this stunning Smith&Wesson Japanese contract – so recently, actually, that I haven't received it yet. So I wondered if any of the S&W gentries could tell me the production date? I have some pictures to lead you in the right direction. The serial number is really low.

Best; Holger Norwegian member.

Wiregrassguy · #2 02-23-2021, 08:49 PM

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I am absolutely no expert but that is a beautiful gun...even modified. I would think 1878 for manufacture but could have been in the Japanese Navy shipment in 1879. Someone who really knows about these guns will be along shortly.

rct269 · #3 02-23-2021, 09:13 PM

I can't tell you the production date, other than early; but I can pass along this perhaps interesting bit of S&W/Japan trivia included as a tag line of sorts in the letter on a later NM #3 (#30261, shipped October 18, 1896 (to Hartley & Graham Co., New York City)--------and for you picture fans, this one is on page 190 of N&J---Revised Edition).

"Smith & Wesson only produced 3,463 units of this model in 1896 of which just over 3,000 units were supplied to the Japanese Government."

Ralph Tremaine

opoefc · #4 02-25-2021, 06:12 PM

Holgersen63, Welcome to the Forum. Japanese "contract" guns are interesting to try researching. I beleive that it would be most unusual that a NM#3 with that low a serial number could be in included in a Japanese contract order as it's a first week of production gun. Most Japanese contract guns will letter as shipped to a S&W distributor in NYC, Australia, etc., that have "Agent" status with the Japanese Gov't. , as S&W did not ship directly to Japan itself. Once the guns actually got into Japanese hands they received various markings depending on where they were to be used by The Japanese, ( Army, Navy, Police, etc ) These markings were usually stamped in the metal somewhere on the gun. If you can post close up clear photos of the markings on your gun , we can tell you what your stampings indicate. However, just because a factory letter shows your serial number was a "Japanese" contract gun, does not guarantee it actually went to Japan, especially if an Australian agent was the recepient of the gun for forwarding to Japan. ( I have a S&W Revolving Rifle that I picked up in Australia a few yrs ago. It letters as a Japan shipped S&W, a very rare S&W for Japan, however it has no Japanese stampings, as never got farther than Australia ) These guns were very popular in the world's market place an I'm aware of other guns in intended Japanese shipments that never got any farther than Australia. Such guns are easy to identify ( usually) as they have no stampings of Japaneses ownership. What is your source of info that your gun is a Japanese Contract gun? If the markings are not military ( Navy, Army) they will be Police/Guard markings that will identify the Prefecture in Japan that received the gun, or if it went to the Palace for the Emperor's Guards. Ed

Oldmanwesson · #5 02-27-2021, 11:49 PM

With such a low number it would probably have been made in 1878. Not likely Japanese contract as they didn't start buying until much later. The first few thousand went to the US government - maybe a straggler, though. It would be interesting to find out from the vendor what information he bases his claim on. Not that it matters much. it's an awesome gun either way...