A newly found 1st Contract 1st Issue

[jleiper]

The first approximately 500 1st Contract No 3s for the Russian government delivered in 1872 had assembly numbers like the previous commercial revolvers. Only 2 of these have been known, serial number 211 (assy no 3O2) and serial number 438 (assy no 18). A collector in Finland has found and been kind enough to send me pictures of serial number 385 (assy no 342).


More pictures shortly
Joe

 

[glowe]

I might be mistaken, but does it look like there is an interlocking hammer (notched)? As I recall, those didn't appear until well into the thousands serial number??

 

[jleiper]

I might be mistaken, but does it look like there is an interlocking hammer (notched)? As I recall, those didn't appear until well into the thousands serial number??

Absolutely not! All 1st contract revolvers have the notched hammer. There were 9 changes (iirc) made to the commercial model and all are found on every 1st contract revolver. These did not include the reinforced trigger pin and improved frame/barrel hinge pin. Those came later and there are approximately 2500 1st contracts without those changes.
Joe

 

[jleiper]

More pics of 385

Cyrillic barrel stamp


Serial number on frame and right grip plate


Master Assy No on the right side of the butt


Assy number on the cylinder

Joe

 

[jleiper]

More pics

Assy nos on the latch and barrel face of serial no 385.
Joe

 

[opoefc]

Joe, Very interesting find! Is the Circle D stamp on the cylinder a fitter/assembler's stamp, or an inspector's stamp? When you get time, pls. post pictures of the prototype, serial # S and perhaps the R, if you have them. We spoke about those at the last Denver show. Ed.

 

[jleiper]

The little circle 'D' mark is an inspector's mark and is seen under the cylinder Serial or Assy Number on almost all 1st contract revolvers. I have only seen the mark missing on one 1st contract revolver (serial 2873). That revolver has the 'P' mark seen on other parts and the frames of other first models.
2nd and 3rd Contracts, (Second models) are seen with the 'D' mark but without the circle. Third models are usually seen with a 'Д' mark.


I will post Serial 'R', I don't think I have good pictures of 'S' but will try to get them.
Joe

 

[glowe]

Absolutely not! All 1st contract revolvers have the notched hammer . . .
Joe

Had to look it up and found that I was confused (not an unusual occurrence), thinking about the 1st Model Commercials with serial numbers below about 6500. I did not know, however, that all 1st Russian Contract Model 3s were made after the introduction of the interlocking hammer and barrel catch.

Now I have to ask about the slot in the right stock and why it might have been done?? Also, how would that sling swivel mounted on the front of the extractor housing have been used??

 

[jleiper]

When we talk about the development of the No. 3, commercial vs. the Russian contract revolvers, American collectors look at it the wrong way. When the original Russian contract was signed, the changes were the improved cartridge, Cyrillic barrel stamp and the lanyard ring. Before production actually began, more changes were requested by the Russians. The initial Russian contract production has all of those requested changes. This does not include the enlarged trigger pin and new hinge pin which were requested after contract production began.
All of the Russian requested changes were incorporated into commercial production as old commercial parts were used up and the Russian production parts were available. That is why all the changes in commercial production were not incorporated at one time but gradually as the old early commercial parts were used up.

I will make a separate post with all of those changes and pictures showing the differences and information when the changes were made in commercial production.

As to the notch and the extra lanyard ring, I have no idea. I got these pictures day before yesterday and am trying to find out more about the revolver.
Joe