As a longtime collector, I have been fortunate to have acquired a number of S&W's finest. The gems of the collection include relatively modern guns in the HE era through WWII, post War 'Pintos' etc. My particular joys have been the early guns, beginning in chronological order with a great Model 1, a virtually new Model 2 etc. The large and impressive Model 3s are very special in my mind and finding them in the best possible condition without selling off my wife and children has not been easy. Nonetheless, I have several that I am quite happy to own.

I have always been intrigued with the Schofield, the first true Post Civil War Cavalry gun, pre dating the better known Colt 1873 and with a fascinating technical and military history. I have never acquired one as those that are not priced in the stratosphere are usually 'ridden hard and put away wet'. Barrels chopped, grips and parts changed and mismatched, etc.

Recently, I got a call from a dealer I have known over the years who is not a Smith specialist who said he had taken in what appeared to be a 1st model Schofield in good condition, about 50% blue, most loss on the barrel, uncut, all the screws nice and crisp without signs of having been taken down, etc. The price was very reasonable and I said to send it to me

What I got was as described. Moreover, it was mechanically perfect. Lookup was virtually factory new. Timing spot on. Extractor worked perfectly without binding and snapped back into the cylinder when all the way forward.

The grips were worn but intact, faint but distinct cartouche. Serial # on the butt matching the one one the back of the cylinder. The correct "L" inspectors marks on cylinder and frame. "US" properly marked on the butt.

All in all an unmolested, well cared for and unrestored gun.

I hesitate to shoot a gun nearly a century and a half old, but this gun just cried out for careful use. I have a close friend who loads and shoots his Model 3s, some originals and many more modern reproductions. I met him yesterday and loaded up about twenty very, very mild BP 45 S&W hand loads. The gun functioned perfectly. Reasonable grouping at twenty five yards, 'minute of bad guy'. Extracted cleanly and the trigger was quite good, heavy but broke cleanly.

A real privilege to own and shoot a gun that may very well have served with the fabled Buffalo Soldiers and spent it's 'youth' on the hip of a trooper riding patrol out West.

I forgot to charge the batteries in the camera so pictures will follow. Sending in to see if I can get a factory letter. Just wanted to share my joy with others, so please excuse this rambling. Dave

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Time Wounds All Heels

Nice catch Dave and welcome aboard. I personally can't wait to see those pictures.

Lucky you. I can only dream about finding such a gem. Can't wait to see the pictures.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Dave, Nice find. Schofields are very interesting revolvers, however factory info. is next to nothing. According to Roy Jinks, there are no shipping dates for military Schofields in the records at the S&W archives, only the date, July 12, 1875, the factory billed the US for the guns shipped to Springfield arsenal., so if you order a factory letter, the billing date is shown as the ship date. Plus, collectors believe there are maybe a 1/2 doz. early Schofields that are not true "military" issued guns, in that they were purchased by Col. Schofield for himself and gifts to friends. These were probably purchased through the Springfield Arsenal, although some collectors believe S&W presented him with examples, also. Roy Jinks also has a list of approx. three doz."civilian" Schofields. He hasn't confirmed this, but I believe that list contains guns shipped to a S&W distributor, such as M.W.Robinson, and therefore the serial numbers for those are recorded on the shipping ledgers. These guns would have been made up from parts or condemned military guns that didn't pass inspection, I believe, and parts of those guns will have military stamps. I currently have serial # 6 in my collection, that some collectors attribute to one of the guns given to, or purchased, by Col Schofield. Some parts of it bear military inspector stamps. No. 6 is on the frame,
grips, barrel & latch. P stamp in the right place. L stamp on rear of cylinder, but no serial number. No L stamp on top of the barrel, so this gun did not receive final inspection. Charlie Pate believes #s 5 & 6 are civilian guns, perhaps given or purchased by Col. Schofield. Ser. # 1 is military and was sold surplus to Wells Fargo, who cut the barrel to 5 in. I once owned it many years and it is now owned by Jim Supica.
What is the serial number of your gun? Can you post pictures? Ed.

2773 Another friend said the factory letter would be able as useful as you suggest, so I will pass on that idea. Will have some pictures available soon. Any additional information you have will be appreciated. Dave

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Time Wounds All Heels

Thats a great find and story, look forward to seeing the pictures.

Thanks Ed, your information is also informative and very interesting. Would love to get hold of one of those Schofields in Roy Jinks office, you think he would miss one? haha.

Ballarat, I've been thinking up ideas on how to get that case of Schofields away from Roy. Maybe a dummy case, made up to look like Roy's case? If you can distract Roy, Dan Meigs says he will sneak in Roy's office and switch cases, if I give him first choice of the Scofields! Do you think that would work? What should I put in the dummy case? Maybe Registered Magnums? Ed.

Ed, reckon we could fill it up with Uberti replicas wrapped in grease paper, reckon he would know the difference?

If Roy is in agreement I would love to see a picture of those sometime on the forum, they may already exist, but I have not so far found any pictures.
All the best

Rgds
Bob

You know, the Uberti replicas are fun little shooters. I picked up a lightly used 3" in 45LC (cheaper to feed vs 45SW) and it functions very well and is a pleasure to shoot. Dave

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Time Wounds All Heels

Dave, yes a friend of mine has a 1st Model from Uberti in 45 Colt, its a real pleasure to shoot when he lets me!!! I shoot it better than him which does not help! I might get one, but at the moment I have just bought a pristine condition 4inch blued Python made in late 1973, probably should not mention that on this site, though I love my S&W guns as well. Partial to good examples of both. Look forward to your pictures -

Rgds
Bob

There are many differences between the Uberti and the original Schofield.
I do own both. My Schofield is a restored second model. It shoots like a wet newspaper. My replica is now 16 years old. It is one of the older models with the thick meanspring.
The topstrap of the Uberti is higher than the original.
The big failure on the Uberti is the very thin and I mean very thin forcingcone. I havent seen any Uberti Schofield wich isnt broken on that point. (Even mine has a crack) However it still shoots very fine and accurate. Even it is an restored revolver I am very proud to be an owner of an original Schofield. It wll never leave my collection.

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The Python is the top of the Colt food chain. It's a pleasure just to thumb back the hammer. Slick, precise and now long gone. Dave

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Time Wounds All Heels

Lovely gun, Thuer. If you don't mind me asking, who did the restoration? Dave

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Time Wounds All Heels

The Schofield did not pre-date the SAA. The S&W Model 3 American & Russian did. The Schofield was not introduced until 1875. The SAA was in 1873. The Cavalry also fielded Colt 1st Model Richards conversions as well as Remington .50 cal. single shots before the SAA & Schofield.

I bought my Schofield from a friend who bought it from Jim Supica a long time ago.

I havent an idear who restored it. The only flaw is that the markings on the frame are gone. But, the bluing and casehardning is perfect.

Here are two more pics.

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	Schofield 3.jpg (37.8 KB, 43 views)

Boge, you are correct as to the Schofield, but not as to the Model 3 itself. The Army expressed interest in the Model 3 when it was first introduced. The Schofield was 'developed' to address the concerns raised as to the perceived 'issues' with the first iteration of the Model 3s by Major Schofield. By the time those were done, the 1873 Colt had been adopted. Dave

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Time Wounds All Heels