My father recently passed and I have inherited a S&W revolver that was with some of my grandfather's belongings.

5" barrel, not sure if this is a model 2 (?). Latest date stamp on top of barrel is 1877.

Also, I have a practical question: how in the world do I break this gun open?

Thanks in advance.

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Adding one more photo.

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Lift the rear sight to open.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

You have a New Model #3 single Action Revolver. Most likely it is chambered for the S&W .44 Russian cartridge. This cartridge is the most common chambering in this revolver. As said, lift the rear sight to open the revolver and break the barrel down which allows the extraction of shells and the reloading of fresh ammo. Neat revolver. Is it for sale?

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Mike Maher #283

Hmm... It has a low serial number, short ejector housing, a short cylinder (1 7/16"), an early New Model Number target front sight, and a standard (non target) rear sight/latch. Is it chambered in the 32-44 cartridge? Can you send some pictures of the cylinder looking down the chambers? Please make sure you take a picture of the entire back of the cylinder.

Another option is its a put together gun from different parts. There is a serial number on the back of the cylinder, one on the bottom of the rear sight/latch, and another on the barrel where the rear sight/latch pivots. That one is hard to see... Its between the ears as they call it.

It could be a Frontier model if the cylinder length is 1 9/16" long instead of 1 7/16" long.

Good looking gun!

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Mark

Thanks! That was too easy...no way for me to not feel like a dufus after that. In my defense, I'm not used to handling guns this old.

Matching #450 on the cylinder, FWIW #2070 engraved underneath the rear sight. No other apparent serialization/stamping.

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Hi There,


I noticed the low serial number but has a later style ejector cam
and it appears that the cylinder is longer too (but pictures can be
misleading at times).

Unfortunately, the latch has a different serial number which means
the latch was replaced at some time. This makes some sense
because the front sight is a target version and the real sight
isn't a target version. So, for some reason, somebody didn't
like the target rear sight and replaced it.

There is a serial number on the barrel too but it is a little difficult
to see. It is stamped in the cutout for the latch. You can see
it if you lift the barrel latch and look (a strong light will help).

This revolver is probably worth getting a historical letter.


Cheers!
Webb

Hum, it appears to be chambered in the obsolete .32-44 caliber. With the low 450 serial number, I'll guess that it was part of the "Target" series and the 'target' rear sight was removed to another revolver. Still a very nice gun.

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Mike Maher #283

dfetch,

Thanks for posting the extra pictures. It is a New Model #3 (NM3) Target model chambered in 32-44. Yours has the scarce front sight that came on early target models. It has the brass bead at the back of the front sight. The early NM3 Target guns were all chambered in the 32-44 caliber. These early guns had a rear target sight that was not adjustable. Its very uncommon to find a gun still wearing the non-adjustable rear sight since many were converted to the adjustable rear sight. When this was done the serial number is missing form the rear sight. For some reason your rear sight was swapped out for a standard non target rear sight.

Serial number 552 was the first gun in the NM3 target series to be chambered in 38-44 caliber. By that time the factory stopped using the non adjustable rear target sight and was installing the adjustable rear sight. The series NM3 Target guns were chambered in either one of these calibers with the last serial number being 4333.

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Mark

Welcome to the forum. As you can, see this this is the place to come for information on all things S&W. I checked with RTGammo in Dallas, TX, hoping Ray had ammunition for your father's gun. Unfortunately he is sold out at the moment. You might call Ray to let him know what you are looking for. Best of luck with that really cool gun.