New Model #3 45 Letter

[Buffalo Nichols]

Well I got my letter today from Mr. Jinks. The gun shipped to Scott & Son Birmingham England Sept 4 1893, Roy says it is a 45 but not which one, 6.5 inch blued hard rubber grips so configurarion is right. I believe the Schofield is correct and here is my logic. I pushed a lead bullet through and my barrel, dial caliper makes it .454. Now the 450 Adams /450 revolver (1868) had a .455 caliber bullet, the 455 Mk 1 (1872)was 452 . The 455 Mk 11 was 454 but wasn't created until 1897, three years after this gun shipped. The only 2 that are correct for the ship date (1893) and bore diameter (454) are 45 Colt (1873) and 45 SW (1875) (Schofield) and 45 Colt is too long for the cylinder.

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

Well I got my letter today from Mr. Jinks. The gun shipped to Scott & Son Birmingham England Sept 4 1893, Roy says it is a 45 but not which one, 6.5 inch blued hard rubber grips so configurarion is right. I believe the Schofield is correct and here is my logic. I pushed a lead bullet through and my barrel, dial caliper makes it .454. Now the 450 Adams /450 revolver (1868) had a .455 caliber bullet, the 455 Mk 1 (1872)was 452 . The 455 Mk 11 was 454 but wasn't created until 1897, three years after this gun shipped. The only 2 that are correct for the ship date (1893) and bore diameter (454) are 45 Colt (1873) and 45 SW (1875) (Schofield) and 45 Colt is too long for the cylinder.

 

[cgt4570]

There's a good chance that it's .455 Eley (Colt). I think it's a little earlier, and a little longer than the .455 Mk II. If I remember, it falls between the Mk I and Mk II for size and year of introduction.
Other than that it's a tough one. There was a rarely seen cartidge I've only heard about called a .45 S&W Special???
If the .45 Schofield fits and has enough headspace, then that is probably the correct cartridge. You can always make a casting of a chamber using Cerosafe. It's a low-melting-point aloy that Brownell's, Midway, etc. sells. That would make it easier to mic the cartidge.
I think the rim thickness for the .455 Mk I and Colt/Eley was thin like the Mark II. If you measure the headspace, this should help narrow it down.

Chris

BTW, my .44 DA Russian also shipped to Scott & Son, but in 1897! It's got the typical commercial British proofs on the frame, barrel, and all 6 cylinders.

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

The 455 Revolver/455 Colt were produced in 1892 but used a 455 diameter bore according to my sources.