CASE CLOSED Is this No 3 revolver genuine?

[Incendiary]

Opps!
My mistake on the safety hammer. Happens every time I post from memory.

I think all we need at this point are the numbers. Good photos of the barrel/latch numbers.

Without them I think we’ve reached a dead end.

Oh, barrel lengths are definitely not an exact science. Antique Smith & Wesson revolvers often see variance of up to 1/4”.

I like the theory that this might be a late assembled gun using up old stock. Very possible.

Murph

The old stock parts is an interesting idea. Was the American known to be shipped into the late 1890s? Cause this thing definitely has an old model barrel shape. Would have had to be made much earlier than stamped.

 

[BMur]

Odd assemblies

There are many examples of late assembly guns using obsolete parts from years earlier. Even years after a model was discontinued.
The issue usually is the produced numbers are very low and difficult to authenticate.

Surplus parts and frames can remain for a long time before being used/sold. More often than not they are difficult to prove authentic due to no records remaining.

In my opinion the most intriguing feature is that barrel address. It’s right but just way after that barrel was manufactured. Basically it supports the late assembly theory.

I have never seen a refurbished gun from the factory receive a late stamp. I have seen the factory replace a damaged barrel with a 30 year old barrel lacking caliber stamp so they definitely had old parts laying around for decades!

I think this was a late assembly that’s why it has the late stamp. The stamp to me screams special order short barrel.

Let’s assume all the numbers match. It still might not show up in the remaining records since it was a very late shipment.

Lots of possibilities. Especially with the Russian contract guns. There were lots of returns so the factory had a lot of old parts laying around from that contract. Pretty much a no brainer that parts and frames would be in stock for a long time.

If the numbers match it’s a keeper.

Murph

 

[BMur]

Interesting

I had a few mins between projects and did some researching.
Here is a very interesting short barrel 2nd issue American.
Notice it has a S&W logo on the right side frame?
That stamp didn’t happen until 1896ish.

I wonder if the OP’s short barrel has the logo stamp?

That stamp has no business being on that American frame!

Unless? It left the factory that way.

Murph

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

I must know the context of this excerpt. Can you let me know what book this is from?

I read this tidbit in Charles Pate's "Smith & Wesson American
Model In U.S. and Foreign Service" 2006 ed. pg. 268.


Cheers!
Webb

​

 

[Incendiary]

I had a few mins between projects and did some researching.
Here is a very interesting short barrel 2nd issue American.
Notice it has a S&W logo on the left side frame?
That stamp didn’t happen until 1896ish.

I wonder if the OP’s short barrel has the logo stamp?

That stamp has no business being on that American frame!

Unless? It left the factory that way.

Murph

Very interesting. The one in your photos has an even shorter barrel it looks like.

That stamp is not on this one - there's definitely no marks on the exposed part of the frame other than the serial. The guy whose possession its in says no marks on the metal under the grips either - but I haven't seen under them myself to verify.

 

[Incendiary]

There are many examples of late assembly guns using obsolete parts from years earlier. Even years after a model was discontinued.
The issue usually is the produced numbers are very low and difficult to authenticate.

Surplus parts and frames can remain for a long time before being used/sold. More often than not they are difficult to prove authentic due to no records remaining.

In my opinion the most intriguing feature is that barrel address. It’s right but just way after that barrel was manufactured. Basically it supports the late assembly theory.

I have never seen a refurbished gun from the factory receive a late stamp. I have seen the factory replace a damaged barrel with a 30 year old barrel lacking caliber stamp so they definitely had old parts laying around for decades!

I think this was a late assembly that’s why it has the late stamp. The stamp to me screams special order short barrel.

Let’s assume all the numbers match. It still might not show up in the remaining records since it was a very late shipment.

Lots of possibilities. Especially with the Russian contract guns. There were lots of returns so the factory had a lot of old parts laying around from that contract. Pretty much a no brainer that parts and frames would be in stock for a long time.

If the numbers match it’s a keeper.

Murph

That's good info, I think this is a decent possibility. I'm so intrigued by this, I'm almost tempted to pony up and pay S&WHF to look into it.

 

[Incendiary]

Hi There,

I read this tidbit in Charles Pate's "Smith & Wesson American
Model In U.S. and Foreign Service" 2006 ed. pg. 268.


Cheers!
Webb

​

Thanks for sharing. I don't have that one and neither does Open Library....it's on the list now though!

 

[iby]

RE-work marks

The re-work markings (month/year) on the grip frame may well not have been in use at the time this gun was altered.
Hopefully someone will chime in on this subject

 

[Incendiary]

I’m letting this one go.

To the guys who have been working on it with me: the seller is quite unmotivated/uninterested. I tried to negotiate a bit (still allowing for a healthy profit for him) and he was not into that either. I found a nice example New Model S/A on the US side of the border for the same price that seems much better both mechanically and cosmetically. We will see what it’s like when it arrives.