I am considering a 2000 S&W Model 3

[K.R._Rabbit]

Hello Forum,
If this post is in the wrong forum, mods, please move it to the correct one.

I have been considering picking up one of the S&W Model 3 revolvers that were made in 2000. They don't give them away, but I am still interested in picking one up. My question to the forum, why did S&W stop making them? I have only handled one before, and it was beautiful, the equal of any Colt made SAA, so why did S&W stop making them? Just curious.
Thanks in advance,
Rabbit

 

[s&wchad]

Back then, Performance Center releases were limited runs. I’m surprised they made the 2000 Schofield at all!

 

[merl67]

Rabbit
I think given the cost to profit ratio I think too it's a wonder they were made at all. With the other Performance Center Models the company is working off an existing platform not so with this one. If I understand correctly they had to reverse engineer it because the blueprints were no longer available. I wonder what the long term value on these will be most commemorative guns do not fair well in the market, nor does anything else made to be a collectable from the get go. Given how few of these there are it could very well be the exception to that rule. Good luck on your quest if you do pick one up please come back, and share your find.

 

[glowe]

Depending on why you want a reproduction Schofield, don't forget those Italian guns. I have a Uberti made Schofield and shoot it quite often and they are very well made and mechanically excellent. Best news is that they are priced well below the S&W reproductions. If you are buying it for investment purposes, that is a different story, but after 20 years, I still have not seen an increase in value for any S&W made top-break.

Now I want one of those Uberti 44 American reproductions, but am waiting for some owner feedback. Love the 8" barrel and overall looks of the American revolvers and am still sorry that I sold all of my originals.

 

[David.Hylton]

When they came out I assumed they were a rebranded Italian version (at least importing raw parts). I remember Colt was doing something similar with the SAA at the time.

Was I mistaken?

 

[sspierce8]

Whoa, wait a minute, they make a 44 American reproduction? Where do you get ammo? I’ve got an original, but no ammo.

 

[glowe]

Whoa, wait a minute, they make a 44 American reproduction? Where do you get ammo? I’ve got an original, but no ammo.

The reproductions are chambered in 45 Colt or 44-40. No one is selling 44 American recently, but they can be made by reforming 41 Mag brass. It requires a RCBS Case Forming Die Set 44 S&W American from 41 Remington Magnum.

This site has manufactured ammo in the past, but like all ammunition it is out of stock:

.44 Smith & Wesson American S&W ammo ammunition

 

[sspierce8]

Yeah, I’ve read that before, but I’m not that savvy to make them, and I’m not sure I would really want to shoot it even though gunsmiths have told me it’s in perfect shooting condition. I know it hasn’t been fired since the 1800’s. I was just wanting some to go with it.

 

[glowe]

Buy some original cartridges for your revolver to keep it company like what I did back when I owned Model 3s. Boxes of 44 American still come up for sale, but are pricey. Even though one can spend a few hundred dollars on an empty 44 American box, the value will only go up over time.

 

[rct269]

During my one and only visit to Turnbull's (more than a while back), they trotted out a 2000 Schofield they were particularly proud of and proceeded to tell me chapter and verse. I listened politely, oohed and awed at all the right places, but really wasn't at all interested----and have forgotten everything except what I just told you.

The timing of all this gives some credibility to the random thought rattling around in my head to the effect they had something to do with the production of this piece----or they did a special Turnbull Edition of the Schofield----or maybe were talking with S&W about doing such----or something along those lines.

Did any of this trip down memory lane really happen, or have I been smoking too much bad weed?

Ralph Tremaine

 

[rct269]

And that brings us to my only other Schofield story, but this Scofield was a real one-----------------

David Carroll and his grandson stopped by early one day on their way to the Smokies for some bear watching. They'd no sooner arrived than David announced he'd brought along "some neat old guns" and some ammunition, and that we should shoot it up. We proceeded to do just that-----sort of. David handed me an absolutely exquisite Schofield, and an original box almost full of ammunition---told me he didn't know if they were original or reloads---and to "shoot 'em up". I did my best---or tried to anyway. My best recollection is there were 46 rounds of ammunition in the box. The very first one went bang---as did one more somewhere along the way. The rest went click----a truly nerve racking experience. The day improved after that---ending up with a huge old Colt something chambered in 38-40. THAT was a new experience! I figured the 38-40 must have been the very first real thunder and lightning cartridge----rompin' and stompin'!!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Bullet Bob]

"I remember Colt was doing something similar with the SAA at the time."

Your rememberer is broken.

 

[clang444]

"I remember Colt was doing something similar with the SAA at the time."

Your rememberer is broken.

Some of the Colt percussion revolvers had parts made in Italy. The 3rd Gen Signature Series for sure, but I think the 2nd Gen were made from Italian sourced parts too.

I might be mistaken but I think the 2nd Gens were finished in house by Colt while the 3rd Gens were done off sight. It always causes a big furor with the Colt guys when they discuss whether the 3rd Gens are "real" Colts or not.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Don’t want to buy one-
But - I sure would like to see one!

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

Some of the Colt percussion revolvers had parts made in Italy. The 3rd Gen Signature Series for sure, but I think the 2nd Gen were made from Italian sourced parts too.

I might be mistaken but I think the 2nd Gens were finished in house by Colt while the 3rd Gens were done off sight. It always causes a big furor with the Colt guys when they discuss whether the 3rd Gens are "real" Colts or not.

Back in 1983 I had one of the first reissue Colt 3rd Dragoons. $400 ! The blueing,if I recall was a bit duller in appearance than the Ubertis,otherwise hard to tell them apart. I heard Uberti made the guns and Colt finished them. I tend to believe it

 

[tennexplorer]

Get one. They’re fun. The Schofield 2000’s are chambered in .45 S&W which is the correct cartridge. You can find cowboy ammo for them but it is scarce. It is a hand loading proposition. You might want to join the SASS board. They show up for sale over there every now and then.

Also speed loaders for the Model 25 work great with them.

 

[Major 2]

Some of the Colt percussion revolvers had parts made in Italy. The 3rd Gen Signature Series for sure, but I think the 2nd Gen were made from Italian sourced parts too.

I might be mistaken but I think the 2nd Gens were finished in house by Colt while the 3rd Gens were done off sight. It always causes a big furor with the Colt guys when they discuss whether the 3rd Gens are "real" Colts or not.

The 2nd Gens were made at the Iver Johnson plant under the
stewardship of Louis Imperato, from some Uberti parts imported in the white. Colt did inspect them They will Letter....

The late Lou Imperato also spearheaded the 3rd Gens though these will not letter. Parts were sourced from Uberti & Armi San Marco.

Henry Repeating Arms was started by Lou and now run by his son Anthony.