S&W Mod.3 Navy

Exmilcop · #1 09-13-2021, 12:07 PM

I know I'm not alone in this, but who amongst us has seen something at a gun or militaria show and said to yourself,"Hmm, let me think about it", gone away, decided to buy it and came back to find out it just sold. Show of hands please. Well, having done that too many times in the past, the above pistol came up for sale here in Canada. I had to go into hock to buy it, but if the sellers description is correct, I'm a lucky guy. The grips are obviously replacements, but he states this has a beautiful bore with very minor fouling and is mechanically perfect. It'll take a while to get here but when it arrives I'll post some better pictures. I forgot to mention that it's in .44 Russian. It's a bad pic, but the serial number looks like 28456.

opoefc · #2 09-13-2021, 01:09 PM

S&W .44DA Model 3 Navy was made Oct 10,1890, as part of a production run of 100 blue revolvers. Not to rain on your parade as I know in Canada how hard it is to own antique S&Ws, by my guess from the photo is that the gun was probably reblued at sometime in the long distant past. Also the HR stocks may be from another model, as that much shrinkage is unusual. Check the number on them when you get the gun. Ed

Exmilcop · #3 09-13-2021, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opoefc

S&W .44DA Model 3 Navy was made Oct 10,1890, as part of a production run of 100 blue revolvers. Not to rain on your parade as I know in Canada how hard it is to own antique S&Ws, by my guess from the photo is that the gun was probably reblued at sometime in the long distant past. Also the HR stocks may be from another model, as that much shrinkage is unusual. Check the number on them when you get the gun. Ed

Thank you Ed. I will provide better pics when the pistol gets into my hot little hands. I am debating rebluing the pistol if that has been done in the past. As much as I'm a fan of original patina, if it's another refinishing, I'll go for it. Does anyone know if there is good disassembly information out there? I'm pretty handy with tools so that's not a problem, but I'm always cautious when entering new territory.

nicky4968 · #4 09-13-2021, 02:27 PM

There comes a point where patina becomes rust. If it has been re-blued in the past, it is still a very nice pistol.

iby · #5 09-13-2021, 02:46 PM

Looks like there is still some blue inside where it did not wear off

opoefc · #6 09-13-2021, 03:10 PM

Exmilcop, This is S&W's 1st DA revolver, so it's a pretty simple mechanism. Research this forum and you may find some postings on disassembly, however with the stocks & sideplate off, most of the functioning parts are visible, so take good photos with your smart phone of everything before disassembly and you can probably handle it. Ed