Questions on "New Model #3"

[Old Dave]

Please correct me if I've miss-identified this as a "Frontier" version of the New Model #3. It has 2 line address & patent info on the rib ,ending with "reissue july 25 1871". 1 & 9/16 inch long cylinder, serial # 131 on butt, cylinder, latch & barrel, short lug or extractor housing, chambered for 44-40, 6 & 1/2 inch barrel. I am assuming that the serial is one of 2072, made between 1885 to 1908. Am hoping to collect opinions on that front sight and the hole in the butt or possible reason for it. Examination with a magnifier shows that it is threaded but I find no tell-tale marks indicating that a lanyard was ever there (usual scarring). As to rear sight, it is not machined into the front or pivot point of the latch. It's a blade inserted into the rear-most part of the latch with no adjustment screws but I guess it could be drifted with a punch. Thanks!

 

[mmaher94087]

I feel that this revolver has been modified and re-nickeled. The front sight is not one that I recognize as factory supplied. The hole in the butt is not in the normal location for a factory lanyard ring. This is subjective, but I believe this revolver has been re-plated as the 'color' of the plating seems off. I really can't put my finger on "Why" I think this.

 

[rct269]

The front sight presents as the "Thin Round Top Blade". It "was applied to break-open revolvers on order from 1905 to 1923."----------also the standard target front on all hand ejectors from 1905 to 1923 (and available on request up to 1942). The supposed production date of your revolver suggests the front sight was changed from whatever the original may have been-------which may be treated in a letter. You don't tell us if the latch/rear sight is numbered to the gun, but whether it is or not, there was no factory rear sight meeting the description of yours.

As an aside, yours is not listed as one of the 781 guns shipped to Japan. N&J has a considerable amount of information on this model, which I will suggest makes getting a letter worthwhile-------assuming as I have that you don't have one already.

Ralph Tremaine

As another aside, the factory adjustable rear sight was screw adjustable for elevation (the screw being found on the underside), but merely movable for windage (being held (clamped) in place by a retaining plate secured by two screws). The only target rear sight screw adjustable for windage on a top-break appeared (only) on the 3rd Model Single Shot pistol (and its parent revolver).

 

[mmaher94087]

A good photo of the cylinder bore(s) would probably verify the caliber as the Russian has a pronounced step and the .44 Win. has two subtle steps.

 

[BMur]

Re-plated

I agree with Mike on the nickel finish. I like the look and it was done well and carefully. The giveaway is the heavily worn original grip on the right panel and heavily buffed area around the frame serial number.
Also, the peeling of the nickel on the cylinder blended in with heavy buffing and blotchy overall Replating.
Often antique guns are missing Original nickel finish In different locations like say the cylinder? But the rest of the gun has a large percentage of nickel. Look at the gun I just won at auction. It's a great example. Heavy loss on the cylinder.

So restoration of the finish is often focused on areas of loss only!
You can do that with a re-nickel. I've done it myself. Then to blend it in? The gun sees the buffer. Then, believe it or not? You can't tell "unless" like the area next to the frame number??? Lots of buffing is evident. Also, in this case the surface wasn't cleaned well enough before it was dipped into the green bath so the finish came out blotchy. I still like it. Rare Bird!

+++ Oh, forgot to mention. That threaded boss at the butt looks like an addition to mount a custom shoulder stock. Not uncommon on long barrel revolvers of that ERA.

Murph

 

[Old Dave]

Thanks for the input. The butt (frame) , cylinder, barrel AND LATCH all have the 131 (serial #) visible. The latch shows no sign of the typical sight at the front of the latch. The rear of the latch has a slot machined in it & a blade installed.

 

[Old Dave]

The chambers have no shoulder or "step". When I slide a dowel in there, I can barely feel it rise as it tapers for the 44-40.