Number 3 New Model frontier

[Jumpinjoe]

Hello and first words are thank you... new to forum, thought I had joined years ago... Smiths being my favorite. I found I wasn't registered so again thanks to all. Now question at hand, appreciate any information. I recently acquired a Smith & Wesson what appears to be ( will try to post pics soon, old guy) a #3 New model, nickel plated. I got it partially disassembled and it has a broken and base pin frozen extractor. I'm not sure but I did a cast on the cylinder and it calipers out within a couple thousands of a .44-40. The cylinder measures close to .427+- a couple. The cylinder is 1 9/16" long. Serial number on frame butt is 346. I'm thinking from much reading it's around a 1892 New model #3, Frontier. Again just thanks from a new comer for any reply.

 

[Jumpinjoe]

OK, any help appreciated... Uberti prts got here, the extractor doesn't fit, not even close. Does anyone know of a source for parts for a No. 3, New model Frontier ?

 

[mmaher94087]

Almost all reproduction Uberti (and other gun manufacturer's) parts are not interchangeable with an original NM #3. Original parts are almost impossible to find. Try Poppert's, Gun Parts Corporation, eBay and Jack First as they sometimes have original; and well made repro parts.

 

[rct269]

I'm fortunate enough to have never needed parts for an antique. I thought I was going to be in need once upon a time, and George Dye (Salt Lake Collectibles) or some such came to the rescue with a complete, as new latch/target sight assembly for a NM #3. Then I came up on Chris Hirsch, a wizard gunsmith who corrected the problem with no need for my parts.

Chris works (worked??) on antiques only, and seemed to specialize in S&W's. He may or may not still be active (Google Chris Hirsch Gunsmith) for contact. I mention him primarily because of the possibility he may have a stash of parts---or know of sources who do.

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Jumpinjoe]

Fantastic, and thank you for info... will let you know

 

[rct269]

Jumpinjoe thought my information was "Fantastic". I hope so.

The rest of the story may be helpful for any who suffer from the same sort of brain fade I did. I'd come upon a rather special NM #3 Target---one of those chambered ONLY for the 32-44 or 38-44 S&W cartridge. This one was chambered for "38 WINCHESTER CTG"-------said so---stamped right on the barrel (of #3914). The letter said "There are no notes in the records on this revolver. It appears to have been a special order for one unit-----------."

So far, so good!!

The target sight on these guns started life as a regular latch---with a regular tang. Then they milled a slot smack dab right down the middle of it---from one end to the other, and filled the slot with the sight carrier's own tang. So far, so good again---except for the fact that slot severely weakened the original tang by virtue of the fact it was now two skinny tangs with a space in between instead of one fat one----but that's okay because the sight carrier's tang fills up that space---restoring most if not all of the lost strength. Still with me?

Okay, now these tangs are of steel---the finest available in 1902---which wasn't all that fine---if you pressed your luck! I pressed my luck. I have no idea why, but I installed the latch (without the sight carrier in it), and closed the barrel. Closing the barrel brings these tangs into contact with the barrel catch cam and its very stout little spring. The result was to bend these two skinny tangs into the space made available by the fact the sight carrier tang wasn't there. BAD MOVE!! The net effect was the two skinny tangs didn't bend very much at all before they broke---SNAP-SNAP!!

Okay, now I'm needing a wizard to fix this, AND a fall-back position in case it can't be fixed---and I'm left with a one of a kind busted gun---a one of a kind busted gun with a busted (numbered) latch/sight assembly. Coming up with a latch/sight assembly was the easy part, because before George Dye was Salt Lake Collectibles, he was working with David Carroll (AND was known as "the sight guy") because he had/could come up with sight stuff for OLD guns---never mind the cost---and he did it again---thank God for small favors!!)

Now for a wizard who could fix the busted gun. There were several who didn't know if they could fix it or not, but they "sure would like to try". That didn't make for a warm fuzzy feeling, but Chris Hirsch's response was "I know I can fix it!"----and he did---and you can't tell it was ever fixed even if I showed you where to look!!

The best part of him fixing it was the cost: $75. I figure that paid for maybe 20-30 minutes of his time---if that!

The lesson for today is don't install part of what's supposed to be an assembly unassembled. It's an assembly for a reason---a good reason!!

Ralph Tremaine