New Model 3 nickel - Questions?

[RobbaBobba]

A kindly old lady brought this New Model 3 revolver into one of my favorite gun shops.

It is not in our normal collecting area, so any help you can give us on it will be much appreciated. I am going to send off a letter request, but that can now take a month or two

Serial number #23003 matches on all parts. It locks up tight, and the bore is almost perfect. Case hardend trigger guard, and hammer. No factory rework marks.

Questions, why the lanyard ring? Nickel finish is dull, should we try to polish it? Does everying look correct?

Thanks in advance for any info you can give us.

Bob

 

[RobbaBobba]

A kindly old lady brought this New Model 3 revolver into one of my favorite gun shops.

It is not in our normal collecting area, so any help you can give us on it will be much appreciated. I am going to send off a letter request, but that can now take a month or two

Serial number #23003 matches on all parts. It locks up tight, and the bore is almost perfect. Case hardend trigger guard, and hammer. No factory rework marks.

Questions, why the lanyard ring? Nickel finish is dull, should we try to polish it? Does everying look correct?

Thanks in advance for any info you can give us.

Bob

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

Do not! repeat Do Not polish it! It appears to be correct. It is part of a group guns that most if not all were shipped to Japan. This would explain the lanyard ring. The lanyard ring was probably added after the gun was completed and assembled as evidenced by the restamp of the serial number, it may also be restamped on the frame under the left grip. It may or may not have japanese marks. Many of these were pulled from exisitng stock and were not a special run. I assume it is chambered for 44 Russian. If you have any other questions please ask and I will try to help. Pricing is affected by many things including the condition of the frame lock up, bore, chambers.

 

[RobbaBobba]

Thank you for your answer. It does seem to be chambered for 44 Russian, although there are no caliber marks on the gun. No rework, or Japanese markings.

We are requesting a letter from Roy Jinks to see where this went originally, and why the lanyard ring.

The action works perfectly, and it indexes, and lock up tight. The bore, and chambers are perfect. Opening the tip up cylinder, the insides look like new, so I suppose the patina on the nickel outside finish, was from sitting somewhere for over 100 years. I would not be afraid to shoot it.

Thanks again for your answer. Had you not responded we would have had no info on this.

 

[mmaher94087]

Don't be surprised if the NM #3 was part of a shipment to Cuba. That type of lanyard ring has been found on a large percentage of revolvers shipped there. Mike

 

[bmcgilvray]

That's a very nice revolver! It' looks appealing just as it is.

What would be the best way to protect the nickel finish on a gun such as this that would leave the originality of the finish surface?

 

[opoefc]

Your New Model #3 was included in a shipment of these guns to Japan in Dec. 1884 and the lanyard swivel was an after market addition, probably by the Japanese. In my experience, the frosty looking nickel finish is the result of poor storage in the past, probably in a leather holster, where tannic acids in the leather chemically infiltrated the nickel plating. Ed.

 

[RobbaBobba]

Thanks for your info.

If this went to Japan would it not have some Japanese acceptance marks on it somwhere. We see no rework, or other marks on it anywhere.

I was amazed to see another nickel one on GunBroker, that has the lanyard ring, and the serial #22531 is less than 500 off ours. I intend to phone the seller on Monday, and ask him if it was lettered.

Otherwise, I guess we will have to send Roy Jinks a letter request. I have an RM that needs to be lettered also.

Bob

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

I have had 4 that lettered to Japan, none had acceptance marks or any Japanese markings. I believe that these were either purchased for the Japanese dilplomatic personnel or for individual purchase by Japanese military personnel. The ones that appear to marked were large purchases from the Navy and Artillery. This is just my opinion based on observation.

 

[RobbaBobba]

After receiving your information, and reading serial number texts in one of our Smith & Wesson books, I agree this particular gun was probably shipped to Japan.

It must have been brought back by the elderly ladies husband after WWII, who took it off a dead Jap servceman. From their description of her, she was in her eighties.

Or it was pulled out of inventory, and shipped to someone else. The factory letter will tell the tale.

Opoefc is right. This New Model 3 sat in a leather holster forever, and that dulled its finish somewhat, although most of the finish is there. Polishing, or refinishing any collector gun will harm its value.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

What's wrong with polishing it?

Would it rip off the remaining plating?

That thing is begging to be refinished.

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

Wyatt, with all due respect a collector would never desire the finish to be polished it would distract from the original finish. If you wish to maintain the maximum value never polish. If however you want a shooter that looks good in the holster and on the range then polish but be prepared to realize half or less of the value at resale.

 

[m-1911]

I really doubt that polishing the dull nickel with FLITZ or SIMICHROME, will cut the value in half. IMHO

 

[Buffalo Nichols]

Gary,
You may be right about Flitz. I was thinking more along the line of a buffing wheel.

 

[RobbaBobba]

Have you guys ever heard of this part of the medical Hippocratic oath? "First Do No Harm".

This revolver is not in our usual collecting genre, so should we decide to sell it after the letter arrives, I think leaving any spiffing up of the finish can wait, as it has been probably been like this for over 50 years.

We have quite a few beautiful old Smiths, but most our attention has been focused on old Colt D.A.'s.

The only thing I have ever used Flitz on, is contemporary nickel guns to remove fine surface scratches.

Thanks for your help guys.