S&W SCHOFIELD FIRST Model LOW Serial number

[dinguss]

I just got a very nice S&W Schofield the serial number is very very low in the 30s and the gun is compleat numbers matching. even the grip has the number 36 on it but the butt strap has no sign of a US the latch screws are even orignal the latch and barrel also marked 36
I am going to get a S&W Factory letter on it as i have on my other two keeper Schofields. Just wondering how rare the ones with that low a serial number like this are if it effects value at all.
Its a grey gun but in great shape ex bore . the gun locks up tight still im gona shoot it like i do all my antique schofields.
the gun has a L inspectors stamp but no P on the under barrel lug i can make out so im thinking that and the fact theres no sign of a US on the butt that its the rarer comercial model unlkess its worn off.
A S&W Letter will just say shiped to Robionsons of new york i guess like most say if its comercial still im gona get the letter.
I have another first model schofield its US marked has the L and P inspectors. so thats why im pretty sure this one is the comercial sold models.
Any info anyone can add would be great Thanks
I will try and post pics later.

 

[opoefc]

The factory letter will tell you if it's a commercially shipped gun. There are only a handful of 1st model Schofield's that will letter as commercial shipments, less than 20 I believe. They are military guns that did not pass final inspection, and therefore don't have the US stamp on the toe of the butt, but will have the "L" and"P" stamps on the parts. Do the grips on your gun have the cartouche's ? Low number guns always have a certain "WOW" factor, however I wouldn't add a whole lot of extra value for a two digit gun The gun's overall condition would be a better indicator of value, I think. Single digit Schofields can be somewhat of a mystery, as I don't think the production routine had settled down all that much. SerIal # 6, currently in my collection has only a small "6" stamped on the left grip frame under the grip, No numbers anywhere else, but has the L & P stamps and the US stamp in the proper places.. As I recall, Serial number 1, formerly in my collection, had only a "1" stamped on the butt and the US stamp. It was also Wells Fargo & Co. Ex., # 1, stamped on the barrel which had been cut to 5 in. for Wells Fargo. Post the letter when you get it. Ed.

 

[dinguss]

I will post the letter when i get it.
The guns condition is really nice just no real finish left.
There is a L under the barrel lug a L on the frame in front of the bolt stop hole and a L on the rear face of the cylinder .
Theres no p stamped i can see anywhere no US in the butt.
the serial number is on all the areas i mentioned in the first post.
Same as my US marked first model in the 1300s. just no US and no P markings
Thanks for the info.

EDIT:: Theres no signs of any cartouchs on the grips one grip has the serial number tho on its underside the right grip the grips are very worn tho and someone has varnished them along time ago they could have had cartouches.

 

[DGT]

Congratulations on what sounds like a great acquisition. We'd love to see some pictures.

 

[dinguss]

Well i asked and was Told its for sure a US goverment purchased gun.
Im requesting the Letter this week but just wanted to know as they take so long to get (which is understandable)
Anyway its good its a US goverment purchased gun as there more sought after for whatever reason, i am surprised theres no signs of a US on the butt but maby on the first lots that went to the goverment orders they never stamped a US theres no trace of even part of a US and the butt has not been ground down like some i checked with a calipers edge its perfectly flat.
IHeres some pics the holster is just a custom Schofield holster i had made from and old gators hind leg


I have pictures printed and the S&W factory letter request ready to go so will get that factory request in the mail tomorrow. sure is a sweet gun EX bore and lock up to.

 

[opoefc]

Dinguss, The only 1st model Schofields I advise lettering are ones that have a chance of being a commercially shipped gun, and the key evidence to that is the lack of the US stamp on the butt, as the butt stamp is the last stamp applied after the sub-inspector has approved the gun. If it doesn't pass his inspection, the gun has two destinies (1) back to the assembly line for correction of whatever the defect may be, or (2) sent by S&W to a distributor, where S&W could get twice the money, and more, that the US was paying for the gun. The one gun that I don't suggest lettering is a Schofield with all the US stamps, and those are all the proof you need to tell where the gun went. There are no shipping records for US Schofields, so the "ship date" on a factory letter is the invoice date the factory billed the Gov't. You say " I asked and was told it's a US purchased gun" What proof was offered that supports that, for a gun w/o the US stamp? Has the gun already been lettered as a US gun? Ed.

 

[dinguss]

Hi Ed i asked Roy and i guess he took a quick look for me in the records .
Maby he was mistaken because i can not see a P on this gun anywhere or or even a trace of a US on the butt strap.
I think i should get the letter because theres no US and a letter would argue it is infact a Goverment purchased gun maby the us was worn off.
That way if i ever sell it down the road i will have the letter to prove it was in fact a US goverment purchased Schofield.
I didnt want to post where i got the info because i dont want to cause any problems so you will just have to figger out who Roy is
Im sending in the application tomorrow i like haveing the factory letters with my guns as it also proves there pre 1898.
Im up in Canada eh. so the letters a good thing to have even tho "we" know these guns are all pre 1898 not everyone up here does.
I can legaly bush carry and target shoot on crown land with a pre 1898 handgun i can not with a modern one. not without a ton of B.S.

 

[opoefc]

I would rely on "Roy's comment" that the gun is a martial gun shipped to the military and it's alway good to have a letter that says so, especially if the US stamp is missing, for whatever reason. Ed.

 

[BUFF]

I have # 584. Lettered, was a U.S. purchase but the U.S. markings on the butt were removed neatly.