You speak American?

handejector

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Shipped Jan, 1874
No Letter yet.
I am working on documenting the history.
It was owned by four generations going back into a Lawman's career in a very interesting part of the southwest. He was definitely a Lawman in the 1890's, and likely the 1880's.
Stay tuned for more details.....


Cal 44 S&W American
Grips are old elephant ivory.

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Four notches.....
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I'm certainly no authority on #3's.
Has anyone seen a swivel plugged this way?
The gun wears the original nickel, and this screw is nickeled. It also has manufacturing characteristics consistent with the other screws in the gun that are slightly unusual.
Factory plug?
Aren't serial numbers normally centered?
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10-12-2018
Edited to add:


The letter-

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I bought this gun from a man in Texas. He was the fourth generation to own the gun, but had no family to pass it on to.

This is part of an affidavit that he furnished with the gun. I have deleted the rest because it is just the genealogy of the chain of inheritance and he wanted his privacy protected:

handejector-albums-2nd-model-american-picture18999-img-0424-a.jpg


Of course, I bought the gun with no premium added for the story.
I did some research on the net and did find some references to the deputy in a county adjacent to Lincoln County in the early to mid 1880s, which was just after Garret's time as sheriff of Lincoln. I intended to do more research, including reading the books about Billy the Kid to see if they contained any references to the gun's owner.
However, after posting the gun here, I took it to the Tulsa show. A man made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I sold it. He was quite enamored with the gun. Later in the show, I walked by his table, and it was quite obvious all kinds of S&W #3s were his specialty.
So, I never did more research.
Who knows? Maybe this gun whacked Billy over the head some Saturday night, or maybe it and Joseph were at the shootout at Stinking Springs. ;)
 
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Even as rugged lookin, old and beatup, it still has an admirable beauty to it.. much like a strong, fine, good lookin woman. Or an old 60's muscle car. All just things of beauty that make you actually want to stop and admire them for awhile. Almost like an Arizona sunrise. The rich history behind that amazing piece makes it nearly priceless in my book. What a piece, keep the history comin, this things amazing.
 
This realy a great piece. But did Smith and Wesson deliver a two tone revolver in that time?
Thuer,looks like its just the cylinder has lost a little more nickel than the rest of the gun.
nice gun though.
That is correct- the gun is all nickel.
A daily used gun had a rough life-
Black Powder.
Corrosive primers.
Sandy and/or wet holsters.
Sweaty men and sweaty horses.



Lee, the frames were drilled for a lanyard ring and plugged with a screw if the ring wasn't installed. The serial number was stamped off-center. I see nothing unusual. Nice 2nd Model American. Mike #283
Thanks, Mike. I'm drawn more by the #3's all the time.....
 
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That revolver is truly a fine example of pride in a product that was trusted and used every day. What a statement about the man who carried it and the history of this great country. Nice addition to your collection, Lee.
 
Lee, Mike is correct. The gun either had a lanyard swivel that was later removed and the hole plugged with a screw, or it left the factory with the plug screw. I would seriously doubt if a factory letter will tell you if it was shipped with, or w/o a swivel, as the shipping records for American models are very sparse as to what details the gun might have possessed when shipped. Nice find. Ed.
 
Lee: "I'm drawn more by the #3's all the time.....". How about a 'quik' list? You'll need an American, 1st Model (you have the 2nd); a Russian 1st, 2nd & 3rd; Schofield 1st & 2nd (Wells Fargo also?); New Model Number 3 Single Action in all the various chamberings (blue and nickel and the various barrel legnths); the Target Model (32-44 & 38-44 minimum); then there's the Turkish Model; Japanese Army, Navy and Artillery, Australian and Argentina marked ones; the Frontier and the .38 Winchester. Throw in a Kelton thumb safety and the .320 Revolving Rifle to round out the single actions. Double Actions are fewer in models but very challenging nontheless. You'll need the 1st Model (aka. Navy); Wesson Favorite; a Frontier and a .38 Winchester. You should be able to find these in thirty years or so. Good Luck hunting. Mike #283
 

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