I have the honor of owning an excellent condition Army version and have some questions.

Does anyone keep a survivor list on the 1,000 sent to the Army and the 1,000 sent to the Navy?

Curious how many are floating around and just how scarce/rare they have become?

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Hello Tom, those guns were not exactly floating around even back in the
1960s. I have had two nice examples that went down the road to buy other stuff, like a house. Hang on to it and enjoy. best

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Mike Priwer has a thread on model 1899s listing the presence of the caliber stamping on the left barrel. That may be as close as the site can get for that variant.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Without pictures it doesn't really exist. Just saying.

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Randy
Provenance nerd

Working on it.....

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Not sure if the it's OK to post links to past auctions, but I came across an auction that ended back in 2013 with one of the Army versions selling for $2,300 plus commission.....

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Past auctions are fine, current auctions are a no no.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

Here you go!

https://www.rockislandauction.com/de...ction-revolver

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Help wanted with 1899 serial numbers

Tom

Above is a ink to my study on the S&WCA forum side. Go all the way to the end of the thread, to get to the latest updated list. There are a few 1899 Army contract guns in the list, but I know there are move.

Regards, Mike Priwer

Mike,

Thanks for the link.....my 1899 ARMY is serial number 13133 if you want it for your list.

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Here is the link to the study on this side of the forum:

Model of 1899 Serial numbers

Mike

None are high condition guns but far from dogs. Front is an 1899 Army. Rear is an 1899 Navy.
Second pic is a 1902 Navy (Model 1902 no change) also a 1/1000 contract.
Combined, I guess I own 3 of 3,000. :-)
I previously owned the 1899 Army in the 3rd pic. It was service department nickel plated and had its chambers lengthened to .38 Special. The service date stamp was in the early '20s if I remember correctly. The inspector stamped stocks were in amazing condition.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Tom

I assume the caliber roll marking is 'S&W 38 MIL'?

Mike

Chris

Did you already give me the serial numbers and caliber roll marking info for these three guns?

Mike

Mike,
I'm about positive I did but I'll verify when I get home this weekend.

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Chris
SWCA #2243 SWHF #292

Correct.....

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

In the years since I first stumbled onto my Model of 1899, US Army, s/n 13030 I have watched auctions, Internet, and sales venues trying to track some deeper history into what the US Army actually did with these 1000 revolvers.

IF (big IF) S&W actually shipped the complete 1000 Army revolvers in one shipment, AND (big and) in numerical s/n order to the Army, then mine was the 29th one made, and would have been in the first shipment(s) to the Springfield Armory in MA on March 29, 1901 (per Letter).

Here is why I wonder what the Army did with the guns (test, issue to selective ordinance groups, issue to line units, etc.):

My left grip panel has engraved on the butt a Gothic numerals "02". I have not seen this on any other guns posted by SWCA members, or on other sites. I did see serial number 13080 (not on Mike Priwer's list) on a famous auction site, but long after the auction had closed and darned if down on the left grip panel was a Gothic set of numerals, only "03"...same font, same size, same location as mine!

I burned off a picture and you can see the similarities but still no provenance (or even speculation) as to what they mean, why and when they were added, by whom.

So anything being possible maybe some of the first 100 serial numbers were selected and marked for evaluation, testing or ?????

A great big "thank you" shout out to Mike for continually updating this list of survivors of the .38 Hand Ejector, Military & Police First Model. typing in bold is Roy's description in my Letter.

Attached Images

	Mod 1899 -1.jpg (66.2 KB, 32 views)
	Mod 1899 -3.jpg (85.0 KB, 31 views)
	Mod 1899 -8.jpg (25.5 KB, 35 views)
	Model 1899 D.jpg (59.4 KB, 38 views)
	S&W 1899 Army sn 13080 grip mark.jpg (6.4 KB, 48 views)

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

I have two, both earlier, # 8047 (nickel) and 8636. The 8047 is rather unusual, as it was sent in for a refinish back before Roy had stopped the service dept from completely bringing returned revolvers up to "current" date. This #8047 has a 4 Line address on the frame. These are both commercial, not the military issue.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Mike, have you seen a Model 1899 Army contract guns that did not have a 38 MIL barrel stamp? Curious, because as I have the opposite, a commercial gun with a 38 MIL barrel? You stated that it was most likely a leftover from the military contract and the factory used them up rather than toss them.

Very nice Model 1899, but I have to state that these guns seem to be all over the board on selling prices at auction. It takes the right buyers at an auction to get to $2000. Some have sat on GB forever without a bid at that asking same price. I have seen very nice guns go for around $1000 and have one that I picked up for well under that price. Not sure that rarity for this particular model always equals BIC money?

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Gary,

The prices are certainly all over the map on these and many other firearms these days, just takes the right buyer that has to have the gun right!!

Would love to know just how many ARMY versions are still floating around, I cannot imagine all of them are!!

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

Mine's an early one, S/N 121X. Commercial model in 38 Spl.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

I have been fortunate to find some militaria to go along with my 1899 Army. Still looking for the belt and ammo pouch.

Attached Images

P1010005.jpg (98.0 KB, 30 views)

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Gary
SWCA 2515

... beautiful first class pictures.
Thank you.
- Donald Paul