New Model 3 Target Set

[Boulder350]

Recently saw an auction for a parts kit listed as 32 long top break. The gun is an early target model serial number 1xx. It has the early original front sight with the Paine silver bead. The back sight has been replaced with the later elevating one so it has no serial number. Not sure if the factory changed the sight before shipping or the did it.

The Model of 91 guns came with extra barrels so I thought it would be neat to do the same with my New Model 3 target model. Will have a custom case made for them and keep them together as a set. A 38-44 in the serial range of 20xx along with the 32-44 barrel.

 

[rct269]

In the for what it's worth category when it comes to unnumbered latch/target sights on top breaks, here's what Jinks had to say about a Model of 91 revolver which lettered as shipped as target.

"This handgun was a special order and it would have been my opinion it would have been pulled from stock and fit with target sights which would not have been numbered to the revolver."

Well, okay---so much for Step One: Why wouldn't the sights have been numbered to the gun?

Letter #2 goes along these lines (except it was a phone call, not a letter): The Repair Department folks work on one gun at a time----with no parts from other guns on their bench. There is, accordingly, no need to number replacement parts----and they would not have taken the time to do so.

Bottom Line: Don't get your knickers in a knot if/when you come across a top break target with an unnumbered latch/sight, as it was commonplace to fill orders for top break targets by taking a fixed sight gun from stock and swapping out the latch/sight assembly.

And near as I recall, this one was a special, special order because it carried the Lyman Ivory Slide sights----fancy stuff!!

Ralph Tremaine