Hello,

I'm green and new and trying to learn more about a friend's SW pistol. No caliber markings on barrel but there are patens from pre-1869. No US markings. Just the numbers 6810 on the but of the pistol.
I apologize that I don't have a lot for you.

Looks to be a break action and he is not aware of the caliber.

This has been hard to find information on.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

is it a BIG pistol?

Welcome to the forum! Pictures would help greatly the serial number posted could have been used on several different models/calibers/years...

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Randy

Welcome! Have a look at this post:

To IDENTIFY your Gun >

If you cannot post photos, a description of all stampings, barrel length (cylinder face to muzzle), and if not noted on the gun an estimate of the bore diameter will probably help.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I can get my friend to measure the length of the barrel and the approximate barrel bore dia soon.

I will try and load pictures now.

Thank you again.

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Smith& Wesson First Model American.

Wow it amazes me what new members show up with your friend has a nice one.

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Randy

I think what I am finding is a rimfire .22 cal? This would be the only caliber for this pistol?

Thanks again

This revolver appears to be a 1st Model American. It is .44 American caliber. Please tell your friend NOT to store it in a leather holster as the chemicals used to tan the leather will cause the remaining blue to turn brown thus affecting the value.

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Mike Maher #283

It is a BIG pistol
1st model American caliber 44 S&W American
Made circa 1871/72
Pretty nice

If the caliber is .22 Rimfire? Then it’s been unfortunately altered. Can you provide a photo of the front of the cylinder and the tip or front of the barrel called the muzzle?

I zoomed in on the breach photo and it “ looks” like the barrel has been inserted. What a shame! If it has been altered to .22 cal? The value is much less.

Murph

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Welcome. Let's supply a little detail to your inquiry. It is indeed the most important Old-West Hog-leg revolver ever made. This revolver came out three years before the Single Action Colt and was the first US made large caliber revolver. The Model No. 3, 1st Model was made from 1970 to 1872 when it was replaced by an improved 2nd Model. Serial numbers were 1 to about 8,000, so it is an uncommon gun to find. It was originally made in only 2 calibers, 44 American and 44 Henry Rimfire, but some numbered above 6000 were sold to Russia in the then new 44 Russian caliber. That revolver probably shipped from the factory in 1872.

As for the 22RF issue, there is no way to see anything definitively identifying that revolver as being converted to another caliber. Can you supply a photo of the rear of the cylinder and the muzzle of the barrel? There are actually more than a few with this conversion out there, and it seems that there might have been a story about Model 3s being converted to 22 RF and maybe someone will relay it here.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I got a few more pictures for you to view. The responses are wonderful and I will try and look into which caliber of .44 this may be.

How can I get my friend to determine which .44 this is?

thanks again for your help!

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If the top of the barrel address does not say "Russian Model" and the firing pin is pointed (for a centerfire cartridge), it is 44 American cal

Unless your friend's gun is sleeved only at the breech end, or there has been some unusual modification to the cylinder bores (or it has a rimfire hammer for .44RF), it is a .44 American-caliber Model 3 American 1st Model 'Transitional,' as it appears to have an interlocking hammer and latch, and is just within the later serial range for this type (6800~8000). It is a 'transitional,' or more accurately a 'let's use up some leftover parts' gun in that its frame is that of the #3 American 1st Model (smaller trigger pin) but has the interlocking hammer and barrel latch of the 2nd Model (or 1st Model Russian 1st Series, for that matter). The 1st Model American 'Transitional' and 1st Model Russian 1st Series (the very earliest contract guns) shared these features, but the Russians soon required an enlarged trigger pin and a boss on the frame to suit; As S&W had leftover small-pin frames that the Russians didn't want, they used them up for sale on the civilian market but added the safer hammer/latch interlock as that was what was used in current production, including on the #3 American 2nd Model, which was being produced at the same time as the 'Transitional' and the Russians.

Coincidentally, the very first antique S&W I ever bought was one of these--35 years ago. I have it still; Your friend has a true piece of history, and shouldn't let it go, either.

What we have here regarding a .22 of some sort is a failure to communicate. The gun is identfied as a First Model American; the OP rather naturally Google-foos S&W First Model, and gets a .22. Both are half-right and completely wrong.

Thus is created the rabbithole, down which someone always falls...

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Pisgah

It looks like this. . . after Dave Chicoine restored it for me, 35 years ago. This is 74XX. It WAS a scrofulous nickel replate, including the bits that aren't supposed to be nickel, with wallowed screw heads and a buggered front sight.

Changing the subject--Is Dave still with us?

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Most likely a 44 American caliber, which is an obsolete round not manufactured today. Some specialty ammunition makers may still be producing this caliber, but very difficult to find.

It is not a 44 Russian since the top address/patent line is in English and Russian contract revolvers are stamped in Cyrillic. 44 RF examples are rare and you can look at the recoil shield to see where the firing pin hits on the chambers, if on the rim, a rimfire. Most likely the hammer will have a round firing pin if centerfire and a flat/slotted pin if rimfire.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Now I'm disappointed. Rabbit holes are FUN! How else would we ever find out that #3s chambered in .50-80 Webley-Vickers were special ordered for use on the twin British expeditions to climb both peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro in 1874, and again in 1875 after the first one got lost and ended up in a really nice bar in Nairobi?

Unfortunately Dave is no longer with us. His son does do some work but not steadily. He lives on through his books on Antique American firearms. Very helpful for anyone into the top breaks.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Ah. That is most unfortunate. He was a master craftsman and a decent, honest fellow.

Now if we can get the OP to post a few more photos? Photo of the cylinder chambers visible light going through them and also the recoil shield and hammer cocked perhaps?
I’ve already been under the bus on this thread. Someone else’s turn.

Murph

I think this is the shot we're looking for. This photo is from my model 3 American .44.
Post a similar shot so we can determine the caliber of your pistol.

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