Revenue Cutter New Model #3

[Collin McB]

I have acquired a S&W New Model #3 that was purchased for the Revenue Cutter service. Very rare gun. Apparently the US government only purchased 140 of these for the 12 Cutters they had at the time. The Revenue Cutter of course became the Coast Guard. Mechanically it is in very good condition and I have shot it. It shoots very well indeed. The finish is really pitted. Like it spent its life in a salt water environment. The bore has pitting too. Because of it's rarity, would such a gun appeal to a Coast Guard collector? As I understand it, the exterior is more important than the interior when it comes to collecting. Up here in Canada it's value is as a shootable antique. (Antique handguns have much looser laws than modern ones. You can even carry them in the woods, which you cannot do with any modern handgun). But I feel guilty firing such a rare piece. Could anyone help with an estimated value to a collector in the US? I know that's impossible to do without pics and I havn't figured out how to do that yet. But...even a gentle nudge in the right direction would be helpful. Thanks. I'll try and figure out how to load pics.
Collin

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! I have no clue as to how to assess value for such an unusual and rare gun. But, would like the opportunity to see pictures of it. Go here for video tutorials on how to post pictures in the forum.

 

[Collin McB]

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Try this link and I'll keep trying to post pics. I'm not very good with tech.

 

[Collin McB]

Link works. I didn't have time yet to watch the video, but thank you for the info. I'll get to it.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

Here. Maybe this will help.

 

[Collin McB]

https://i.imgur.com/0I7LfMh.jpg

 

[Collin McB]

Thank you sir

 

[Wiregrassguy]

No problem. What leads you to believe it was in the Revenue Cutter service?

 

[BMur]

Factory Letter?

Very historical Smith & Wesson. Do you have a letter for this one?
Also, does it have any Military markings? Anchor? Letters?
Murph

 

[Collin McB]

I have two different Roy Jinks letters, as well the serial number falls in those from 2 different books that id the guns purchased in 1890 for the service. I have some other provenance that came with it as well. It's definitely a Revenue Cutter Service revolver. No other markings, but it was shipped on June 27,1890 to the National Armoury in Springfield,MA. The one letter indicates that it's final destination was likely the Revenue Cutter Service.

 

[Oyeboteb]

I have two different Roy Jinks letters, as well the serial number falls in those from 2 different books that id the guns purchased in 1890 for the service. I have some other provenance that came with it as well. It's definitely a Revenue Cutter Service revolver. No other markings, but it was shipped on June 27,1890 to the National Armoury in Springfield,MA. The one letter indicates that it's final destination was likely the Revenue Cutter Service.

Neat old S & W!!

Just curious - what is the 'some other provenance that came with it as well'?

And...

Was it a shipment of one? Or part of a larger Shipment?

What Finish and Stocks do the letters have listed?

 

[BMur]

Value

The letters that I have seen and read list "Blue" finish, 6 1/2" barrel and Wood checkered grips.

The real honest issue with this gun is the present condition. It's heavily pitted all over. NO matter how you look at it that heavy pitting detracts heavily from value.

I've personally restored guns in this condition with a very slow and tedious welding process that takes oh, about 100+ hours. The only reason I did so is due to low initial purchase price and final value after completion. The math added up.

So, honestly, you have to consider the cost to restore this rare gun or except that it will not obtain maximum value in its present state.

Some collectors honestly believe that rarity is KING...but it's not.....Condition is KING...

Murph

 

[iby]

I looked a finished auction Circa 2019
50% condition (nice) 6" barrel w/letter $4330

 

[Oyeboteb]

The letters that I have seen and read list "Blue" finish, 6 1/2" barrel and Wood checkered grips.

The real honest issue with this gun is the present condition. It's heavily pitted all over. NO matter how you look at it that heavy pitting detracts heavily from value.

I've personally restored guns in this condition with a very slow and tedious welding process that takes oh, about 100+ hours. The only reason I did so is due to low initial purchase price and final value after completion. The math added up.

So, honestly, you have to consider the cost to restore this rare gun or except that it will not obtain maximum value in its present state.

Some collectors honestly believe that rarity is KING...but it's not.....Condition is KING...

Murph

I myself would not feel that this Revolver should be re-done to look 'new'. I mean, it is what it is, and being what it is, it is just fine as it is!

It is honest, and real...it has no apologies to make.

It saw some neglect, dampness, got rusty, pitted, etc, got scrubbed and cleaned up along the way, and is a 'survivor'.

If it were mine, I'd be very happy and proud with it, just as it is!


Anyway, looks like Hard Rubber Stocks on the example here.

I'd be curious to know of they have scratched numerals inside which co-relate to THIS Revolver?

If so, and if they fit perfectly, then it may suggest that they are original to the Revolver, and with this, if this was a "shipment of one", then the Revolver may have shipped to an individual within the Service, rather than to have shipped per-se to The Service as such, to be IN the Service as an Issue Arm.

This was not uncommon back then...especially for Offiers who wished to own their own Side Arm.

 

[jimmyj]

In my "Time" USCG obtained Their weapons from other branches of service (Navy, Marine Corp). Interesting that the #3s were a direct purchase and of a caliber not used by the other services.

 

[Johnnu2]

I have absolutely no knowledge of these guns... but I would venture that here in the US it would be worth at least $4,000. Perhaps someone with more experience and knowledge on the forum will help you out.
IMHO of course,
J

 

[iby]

model 3

I have absolutely no knowledge of these guns... but I would venture that here in the US it would be worth at least $4,000. Perhaps someone with more experience and knowledge on the forum will help you out.
IMHO of course,
J

read post 13

 

[opoefc]

S&W Trivia Re: US Coast Guard Model 3 revolvers. Many yrs ago when the S&WCA was in it's infancy, Roy Jinks was looking thru the shipping records for the Model 3s and noticed some entries that said shipped to " Rev . Jones , Rev. Smith, Rev. Brown. etc " or similar. He noted in an early newsletter that he had discoved a bunch of Preachers ordering S&Ws to go with their Bible thumping ! " Later it was determined by further research that the "Rev. " was an abbreviation for Revenue Cutter, the predessors of the US Coast Guard, and the name in the records for each "Rev" was the particular Cutter's name . Ed

 

[first-model]

I myself would not feel that this Revolver should be re-done to look 'new'. I mean, it is what it is, and being what it is, it is just fine as it is!

I agree. Restoring this gun would be like smearing lipstick on the Mona Lisa.

Plus ... it's worth more as it sits now than it would be with a bunch of restoration work done to it. Any collector worth a darn would know in an instant that the gun was tinkered with, and the value would accordingly plummet.

Mike

 

[Books]

I had an opprotunity to purchase a Revenue Cutter Service New Model 3 a few years ago.

It had been modified. Some one had cut slots in the rib to make look like a Colt Python.

I passed.

Books