New Model 3- Need info and advice

[boaconrp]

I just picked up a New Model 3 from an auction and I'd appreciate some info and advice about it. I have been collecting Colt single actions and have learned quite a bit about them, though I've really just scratched the surface compared to a lot of the guys on the forums. I am not so familiar with the S&W.

The gun has been refinished and has the wrong cylinder. The lettering is all still crisp and the bluing is quite well done, with some areas of wear and freckling. I bought it as a shooter, so originality isn't my priority. I would like it functional so that I can take it out and put a few rounds through it once in a while. But most of the time it will sit on display with some Colts of the same period.

My guess is that the cylinder came from a DA .44, but I'm not certain. It seems to fit very well, though it's obviously from a different model.

The action feels very tight, but I'm not sure it's working properly. For one thing, there is no half-cock. Maybe that notch broke off? It's very solid on full-cock with almost no play in the cylinder and no extra room to pull the hammer back. It seems to have a rebounding hammer, but I don't think it would strike a primer when fired. If I hold the trigger down and press the hammer forward, the firing pin will advance properly, but dry firing doesn't seem to have the same effect- I don't see the firing pin advance past the recoil shield when I dry fire it. Is it happening too quickly to see?

One last thing- are .44 Russian cartridges correct for this gun? If so, is there any reason not to run some cowboy loads through it?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

 

[mmaher94087]

" If I hold the trigger down and press the hammer forward, the firing pin will advance properly.." That is the correct function of the rebounding feature. As you noted; that is a cylinder from a DA revolver. I wouldn't expect any problems using that cylinder in your SA revolver.

 

[H Richard]

Hold your finger over the hammer nose bushing, then pull the trigger. You will feel it if the hammer nose (firing pin) will reach the cartridge.

 

[boaconrp]

Hold your finger over the hammer nose bushing, then pull the trigger. You will feel it if the hammer nose (firing pin) will reach the cartridge.

Thanks. I tried that and it worked. This is my first gun with this feature. I guess it happens too fast to see, but I certainly felt it.

 

[boaconrp]

Can anyone confirm that .44 Russian is the correct round for this gun? If so, any suggestions on a particular ammo?

 

[mmaher94087]

The barrel markings "44 S&W CTG" indicates the S&W .44 Russian cartridge.

 

[murphydog]

You can find .44 Russian ammo, usually intended for Cowboy Action shooting and loaded fairly light. There is quite a debate about using smokeless powder loads in a revolver intended for black powder and someone may be along to restart that .

 

[mmaher94087]

"..but I certainly felt it.". I got a chuckle from this. I usually have an eraser next to the hammer bushing so that I don't go away with a souvenir blood blister on my thumb.

 

[boaconrp]

"..but I certainly felt it.". I got a chuckle from this. I usually have an eraser next to the hammer bushing so that I don' go away with a souvenir blood bluster on my thumb.

NOW you tell me! LOL

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!

 

[rct269]

Time to display a bit of ignorance--------------------------------

I can't quite make out the latch number, and I haven't chased down the patent markings on the barrel, but given the DA cylinder, the serial number on it, and the caliber marking on the barrel, I'm guessing the cylinder matches up with the barrel (serial number-wise)----and the frame assembly is the odd man out on this combination-----yes?

Ralph Tremaine

 

[boaconrp]

Time to display a bit of ignorance--------------------------------

I can't quite make out the latch number, and I haven't chased down the patent markings on the barrel, but given the DA cylinder, the serial number on it, and the caliber marking on the barrel, I'm guessing the cylinder matches up with the barrel (serial number-wise)----and the frame assembly is the odd man out on this combination-----yes?

Ralph Tremaine

The barrel and the frame have matching serial numbers, but the cylinder has a different serial number. It appears that the cylinder was the only replacement.

 

[glowe]

The cylinder could be either 44-40 or 44 Russian. It looks like a short cylinder, 1 7/16" and if so it would have started life as a 44 Russian, but if 1 9/16" long, it could have been either.

Interesting that the serial number on the cylinder is exactly 10 above the highest listed 44 Frontier made (15,340). All Frontiers had long cylinders and were chambered in 44-40. Standard 44 DAs started using the long cylinders for 44 Russian caliber later in their production run, well above the 15,000 range.

 

[rct269]

I guess I was hung up on the caliber marking on the barrel. I only have one of these so marked-----and it's a later gun----and I was thinking later guns had the caliber markings.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[boaconrp]

The cylinder measures 1 7/16". I don't have any .44 Russian ammo, but I tried a 44-40 and it wouldn't fit. The diameter of the bullet was okay, but the cartridge wouldn't fit past a certain point in the cylinder.