Need help identifying this Top-break

[rcvoikin]

I'm considering purchasing this revolver along with an old Colt in a package deal. I'm sorry for the crappy photos, I hope they can be useful for ID purposes. I know this gun has been refinished. It times and locks up very well. It's 44 Russian caliber. Any help and/or advice is greatly appreciated.

Rick

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Welcome to the Forum!

What you have is a .44 S&W NM#3 DA 1st. Model. (or New Model
# 3). How long is the cylinder? The regular model was .44 S&W
Russian but there was a "Frontier" model in .44-40. To accommodate
the longer rounds, the cylinder was lengthen from 1-7/16" to 1-9/16".

The "Frontier" wasn't a good seller and some were converted to .44
Russian to fill other orders. So, which length cylinder do you have?

Cheers!
Webb

 

[mmaher94087]

The serial number appears to be 8406. If correct, then the cylinder is 1 7/16" and this is not a Frontier (1 9/16") converted to .44 Russian. I believe the revolver is a 1st Model, .44R DA.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

I thought it was the 1-7/16" cylinder but the buffing and pics
made it hard for me to be sure so I asked the question.

I am curious why you say that if the serial number is 8406, it
cannot be a Frontier? I own NM#3 DA 1st Model Frontier 6948.

Cheers!
Webb

 

[rcvoikin]

Hi There,

Welcome to the Forum!

What you have is a .44 S&W NM#3 DA 1st. Model. (or New Model
# 3). How long is the cylinder? The regular model was .44 S&W
Russian but there was a "Frontier" model in .44-40. To accommodate
the longer rounds, the cylinder was lengthen from 1-7/16" to 1-9/16".

The "Frontier" wasn't a good seller and some were converted to .44
Russian to fill other orders. So, which length cylinder do you have?

Cheers!
Webb

Thanks for help, I don't have possession of the gun so can't measure at this time but I will update as soon as I find out.

 

[mmaher94087]

Webb, my mistake. It's the other way around. The Frontier was NOT converted from .44-40 to .44 Russian. The .44 DA 1st Model was converted from .44 Russian to .44-40 in the later serial numbers.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

After refreshing my memory, the S&W NM#3 DA "New Model Navy"
First Model came out in 1881 and were numbered from 1 to 54668.
They were chambered for the .44 S&W Russian ctg. and sold from
stock up to 1913. The "Frontier" version was numbered in it own
serial number range from 1 to 15340.

There is a cryptic note in the Niel & Jinks Smith & Wesson 1857 - 1945 ...
on pp. 197 it says:

"Most of this model chambered for the 44 S&W Russian cartridge
had 1-7/16" cylinders but a few late ones were made with 1-9/16"
cylinders."

I have read (but cannot locate at this time) that the last of the "Frontier"
models (both single and double actions) were just rolled into the regular
NM#3 SA and DA serial range. I don't know when this took place but
I have one example SA that is numbered in the regular NM#3 SA serial
range but has the 1-9/16" cylinder. In my case, it is serial number 35722
which is within the last 100 SA revolvers made.

The OP's revolver is not at the end of the serial number range so therefore
should be .44 Russian.

Cheers!
Webb

 

[Schof45]

That cylinder does not look correct to me. Looks like the cylinder grooves have been extended for some reason.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Well, yes. They have been lengthen by heavy coarse buffing.
This sort of thing happens when one is trying to get into a tight
turn with a too large a diameter buffing wheel. It's the kind of
thing one sees from time to time.

Cheers!
Webb

 

[rcvoikin]

Thanks for the information guy,
So my next question is: with the re-finish and limited photos I currently have, approximately where would this piece fall on the grading scale? I have a few older revolvers and surplus firearms but I’m a total beginner when it comes to grading. I just want a ballpark for when I try to negotiate. Thanks in advance

Rick

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

*sigh* Attempting to grade or evaluate a specimen is always
subjective when judging from only a few photographs. IMHO,
this specimen is in the fair to poor range due to lack of any
original finish and the heavy buffing and wear to the metal
surfaces. Functioning mechanical condition is a plus and
depending on bore condition, may be a nice shooter. In
those circumstances it may be considered closer to fair than
poor.

Cheers!
Webb