Gunshow Find New Model 3

[singleshot1891]

I had this guy follow me home from the gunshow I was set up at over the weekend. I got into it at very good price. I'm still grinning from ear to ear.
Chambered in .44 Russian.

I do have a couple of questions however.

I haven't seen that front sight before. Was it installed at the factory in 1953 when the pistol was reworked ? Or is it some aftermarket installed after it left the factory ? And if so, I'd like to put the proper half-moon sight back on the pistol. How hard am I going to have to search for an original sight ?

Secondly, I own many S&W's that have been reworked at the factory as indicated by the star behind the s/n.
I do not recall ever seeing the full year stamped on the frame. Always a 3 or 4 digit number indicating month followed by last 2 digits of the year.
Can anyone shed any light on this ?
Thanks in advance gents....
WB

 

[mmaher94087]

Pure guess (somewhat educated): 1 (January) 9, (19)53. 1953

 

[iby]

It appears to be a target model so would have a target front sight
Not a std 1/2 moon.
The one it has looks Custom

 

[cgt4570]

I probably have a spare Paine or Marbles correct front sight. I'll check.

I've got a few of these. They're fun. A .44 Russian, .44WCF, .32-44 and .38-44. Got a few of it's DA cousin, also.

 

[mojave30cal]

You might want to get a factory letter first before you go
changing that front sight.

 

[Exmilcop]

Oh you lucky man! That pistol is gorgeous! My holy grail is that exact pistol and caliber in that condition. I have a mechanically excellent one but not with the target sights and cosmetically more worn.

 

[singleshot1891]

I will letter this one, yes.

 

[rct269]

Keep in mind there were more than a few folks working in the Service Department----individuals every one---each with their own interpretation of what was the proper way to mark the guns on their bench. My all time favorite example was a Registered Magnum, nickel, 5", 1 of 15 shipped to the Indianapolis P.D. which very clearly had been completely rebuilt and refinished. It carried FIVE well hidden tiny little stars (every place it had a place)------frame (way up at the top of the grip frame where it meets the frame), barrel (hidden away inside the ejector rod shroud)---cylinder (under the the ejector star), yoke (along side the serial number)--------and sideplate (on the inside). As to the date code, there were two different five digit numbers on the left grip frame, both of which could have been dates, but there were no/'s, no-'s, no spacing between the numerals, and everything under the sideplate appeared to be brand new.

As to the front sight, the Paine Black Bead was the standard for target guns at the time, but front blades were easy to replace/modify/or make from scratch; so don't lose any sleep over the fact this one is an unknown for the period.

That very same gun sold at auction for over $8000 recently, so there was no stigma attached to the fact it'd been completely redone. Either that, or the buyer didn't know----just like I didn't know until I took it apart.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[mrcvs]

Keep in mind there were more than a few folks working in the Service Department----individuals every one---each with their own interpretation of what was the proper way to mark the guns on their bench. My all time favorite example was a Registered Magnum, nickel, 5", 1 of 15 shipped to the Indianapolis P.D. which very clearly had been completely rebuilt and refinished. It carried FIVE well hidden tiny little stars (every place it had a place)------frame (way up at the top of the grip frame where it meets the frame), barrel (hidden away inside the ejector rod shroud)---cylinder (under the the ejector star), yoke (along side the serial number)--------and sideplate (on the inside). As to the date code, there were two different five digit numbers on the left grip frame, both of which could have been dates, but there were no/'s, no-'s, no spacing between the numerals, and everything under the sideplate appeared to be brand new.

As to the front sight, the Paine Black Bead was the standard for target guns at the time, but front blades were easy to replace/modify/or make from scratch; so don't lose any sleep over the fact this one is an unknown for the period.

That very same gun sold at auction for over $8000 recently, so there was no stigma attached to the fact it'd been completely redone. Either that, or the buyer didn't know----just like I didn't know until I took it apart.

Ralph Tremaine

Can you post a link to that $8000 sale? That’s an awful lot for a New Model No 3 such as this one, especially one that was returned to the factory.

 

[bigwagon]

I assumed he was talking about the Registered Magnum he used as an example of refinish markings that sold for $8K, but I could be wrong.

 

[rct269]

Can you post a link to that $8000 sale? That’s an awful lot for a New Model No 3 such as this one, especially one that was returned to the factory.

The $8000 sale was a 357 Magnum (an RM----1 of 144 in nickel---that was returned to the factory.)

Now if you want some sale prices for NM #3's, I had some of those too----goes like so:

NM #3 Target in .38-44------$2025
NM #3 Target in .32-44------$2235
NM #3 Target in "38 WINCHESTER CTG"-------$6500
NM #3 (target) in .44 Russian------$6470

Ralph Tremaine

 

[singleshot1891]

Received the factory letter today.
Thanks Don and staff for the fast turn around time !
Still smiling from ear to ear !!

 

[NRA-Life-Member]

Very nice getting the letter for your acquisition of a beautiful No. 3

 

[iby]

Good chance the front sight was installed at the factory IMO
They probably used a sight they had for a more current (1953) model

 

[stanmerrell]

Real good on you. That's a win. Sometimes being in the right place with a couple grand in your pocket is all it takes.