This is my first time on this or any other forum, so I'll ask for forgiveness up front! Anyway, earlier today I was researching for background info for an old S&W top break that I've had for a few years. It's a new model #3 in .44-40 6 1/2" barrel and in pretty decent condition. While doing my searching I found an old Thread on this forum that listed new model #3 serial numbers, shipping dates, and other remarks. This Thread was dated 10-09-2007 by JimSupica. I have a question concerning my sn 106XX. If he is available to contact me I would be grateful. Thanks
New Model #3
- Thread starter Geo1948
- Start date
mmaher94087
Member
Welcome to the Forum. Please ask your question as there are many folks that might be able to answer your question.
opoefc
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Welcome to the Forum. Jim Supica has retired from his job as Director of the National Firearms Museum at the NRA HQ in Fairfax, VA, to a life of leisure as a Country gentleman in his home state of Kansas. Jim monitors this Forum, as time permits, so I suggest, as did Mike above, that you post your question here and you will get an answer. Ed
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Please post us some images of your old S & W so we can enjoy seeing it..!
If you're certain of the caliber ... and .., the SN is 106xx, you might not have a NM3 Frontier which is single action. Is your S&W Single or Double Action ? If it is double action, you likely have a 1st model .44 Double actions. Although those who are unaware, at times, call the DAs a New Model 3, it is NOT a New Model 3, it is a 1st Model .44 Double Action.
If the SN and model ID of a New Model 3 (Single action) is correct ... it's a far reach but could have been one of those sent out as part of the Japanese Contract of New Model 3s.
Post a few pix. Would be a great help. Once posted you'll have some primo input, from our tenured members, especially, our most senior S&W Guru and Model 3 guy, Ed Cornette. (opoefc)
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Thanks for the fast reply. And you are correct, it is a double action. There is no caliber stamped any where on the gun. The guy I bought it from said it was a .44-40 and a .44-40 cartridge fits perfectly in the cylinder-but I have not fired it. It seems to function fine, with a little cylinder slop- but not bad. Nice even patina-old blue original finish- no pitting. Hard rubber grips in good shape. Being a first model .44 double action as you stated; is that a good thing? I'll try to get the wife to figure out how to post some photos. Thanks again for your help and any additional info would be appreciated! Geo1948
James E. McCall
Member
Smith & Wesson Model #3
I have a Smith & Wesson Model #3 in .38 S&W, it is a breaktop with Spur Trigger ( single Action, no trigger guard)it is nickel plated and looks like new although there is some pitting in the barrel, was fired before and I guess they did not clean it properly as this revolver was built during the Black Powder days, believe it or not it looks like new, when opening the extractor pushes all the shells out of the cylinder (5 shot), I have never even tried to fire it as I think its too valuable, by the way the serial number is 98 and all visible parts including cylinder and extractor have that number, on top of barrel is stamped :
SMITH&WESSON SPRINGFIELDMASS,U,S,A,PAT'D JAN,17&24,65
JULY 11.65.AUG.24.68.JAN.19.1875.REISSUE JULY 25. 1871
Grips are hard rubber with S&W at top in the round ,like new.I also have the First Model, (.22 7 shot), 2nd Model in 32 Rimfire, Model above and also 4th,5th and 6th Models which are all breaktop with trigger guards, two are double action and one is single action, I am very rich in Smith & Wessons, also have 38's .357, 44 Mag Model 29 and .22 long semi-autos Model 41 and .32 Long Model of 1905 ( nickel plated), I am in the process right now photographing them all and making up bio's for all of them ,semi-autos I have two Model 39's one blued, bought new, back in the early 60's( with box) and the other a 39-2 nickel plated, I shoot them all except for Model #3, fired #2 as I have a 50 round box of 32 rimfires (-2) and my Model 52 Master with screw in frame to make it double action, and that is it whew.I guess when I started in this forum I did not explain about myself. Born 0ctober 14th 1940 in Hells Kitchen NYC my Mom was a Rockette but first was a Roxy, my Dad served in WW2, moved to Teaneck NJ in 1955, graduated in 1958, enlisted in the USMC in 1957 in my senior year, graduated, went to Parris Island Sept 1958, spent almost 5 years active duty in "K" Company 3rd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division, also spent 6 years active reserve after mustering out in 1962, Appointed to Teaneck PD, spent 30 years as a LEO, now retired almost as long as I served now 80 I still shoot everything I can get my hands one and also reload most except 22 LR.
I have a Smith & Wesson Model #3 in .38 S&W, it is a breaktop with Spur Trigger ( single Action, no trigger guard)it is nickel plated and looks like new although there is some pitting in the barrel, was fired before and I guess they did not clean it properly as this revolver was built during the Black Powder days, believe it or not it looks like new, when opening the extractor pushes all the shells out of the cylinder (5 shot), I have never even tried to fire it as I think its too valuable, by the way the serial number is 98 and all visible parts including cylinder and extractor have that number, on top of barrel is stamped :
SMITH&WESSON SPRINGFIELDMASS,U,S,A,PAT'D JAN,17&24,65
JULY 11.65.AUG.24.68.JAN.19.1875.REISSUE JULY 25. 1871
Grips are hard rubber with S&W at top in the round ,like new.I also have the First Model, (.22 7 shot), 2nd Model in 32 Rimfire, Model above and also 4th,5th and 6th Models which are all breaktop with trigger guards, two are double action and one is single action, I am very rich in Smith & Wessons, also have 38's .357, 44 Mag Model 29 and .22 long semi-autos Model 41 and .32 Long Model of 1905 ( nickel plated), I am in the process right now photographing them all and making up bio's for all of them ,semi-autos I have two Model 39's one blued, bought new, back in the early 60's( with box) and the other a 39-2 nickel plated, I shoot them all except for Model #3, fired #2 as I have a 50 round box of 32 rimfires (-2) and my Model 52 Master with screw in frame to make it double action, and that is it whew.I guess when I started in this forum I did not explain about myself. Born 0ctober 14th 1940 in Hells Kitchen NYC my Mom was a Rockette but first was a Roxy, my Dad served in WW2, moved to Teaneck NJ in 1955, graduated in 1958, enlisted in the USMC in 1957 in my senior year, graduated, went to Parris Island Sept 1958, spent almost 5 years active duty in "K" Company 3rd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment 2nd Marine Division, also spent 6 years active reserve after mustering out in 1962, Appointed to Teaneck PD, spent 30 years as a LEO, now retired almost as long as I served now 80 I still shoot everything I can get my hands one and also reload most except 22 LR.
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steelslaver
US Veteran
You really need to start a new thread on this so it will get some individual attention. Sounds like a nice gun, Most top breaks are not very high in value, but yours with such a low serial number would be interesting.
Semper Fi
Semper Fi
Welcome to the Forum. I would send Jim a Private Message (PM). Just go to the top of the page on the right side and click on "Private Messages". Jim's Forum handle is" JimSupica
Just start a PM and this will be delivered directly to Jim.
Just start a PM and this will be delivered directly to Jim.
Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, GEO1948 and James!
James E. McCall
Member
Thank you all I am not computer savvy, my wife got this computer built for her and she registered our account as ME, what else is new? But as I am now stuck with aol after Verizon dumped us there, am going to have the guy who built this computer come over ( with mask and gloves) and have him straighten this out for me. You would think that after all that time I spent in the Marine Corps and Teaneck NJ PD that I would fall for this but she is a little elf and knows after 47 years how to pull my strings.LOL
James E. McCall
Member
Also while in the PD, my last 10 years I was sent to Quantico to the FBI Academy for advanced Photography, Fingerprinting, Crime Scene Evidence gathering and new in 1983 DNA collecting. All of which led to my first Homocide where I was able gather evidence to put him away for life, then in 1884 was my second Homocide and again was able to another killer away for life, I am not blowing my own horn it just happened as I am a good observer as I learned that in the Corps. I was rolling along putting quite a number of bad guys away no matter what ethnicity they were and along the way was able to get two others in our ID Bureau to follow in my footsteps and they surpassed me as In 1989 due to our town having us fingerprinting immigrants that other towns refused and being ordered by town hall to do so I contracted viral encephalitis and meningitis and wound up in the Isolation ward at our local hospital where I was in a coma for over a month, when I finally came out of it I could neither read, write nor walk without assistance, but my PD guys came over every day and dragged me out walking and read the paper to me every day. I put in my paperwork 2 years later and retired even though I could have stayed until 55 yrs old, so thats my sad story.
There's nothing wrong with using your real name vs. an alias. Many folks here do it. But, if you don't like it, PM the admin to change your user name to some alias you like.
The top break spur trigger revolver you describe sounds like a .38 Single Action 1st Model AKA the Baby Russian. It should have an Aldrich safety device on the hammer. If it has the long ejector housing, that's what it is. If it has the short ejector housing, it is a 2nd Issue .38 Single Action. Can you post some pictures?
The top break spur trigger revolver you describe sounds like a .38 Single Action 1st Model AKA the Baby Russian. It should have an Aldrich safety device on the hammer. If it has the long ejector housing, that's what it is. If it has the short ejector housing, it is a 2nd Issue .38 Single Action. Can you post some pictures?
Hi Geo - I think the suggestion to post your pic and question here is a great one. That way you can get the input of lots of helpful and knowledgeable folks. Odds are that I won't know much about a specific gun by serial number (unless it's one that I sold in the past), but if you prefer you can email me at [email protected] I won't be able to confirm the model without a photo. -- Jim
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