Something weird about my Schofield

[Patbar]

I have a second model Schofield which has military markings such as "P", "E" and "W", but no cartouches on the grips as they have been later carved with branches and leaves.

But something really puzzles me as there is no U.S marking on the butt. The heel of this butt has been scratched but not deep enough to mask such a marking.

I read in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson that some 2nd model army Schofields had no US marking ont the butt, but they are very rare, 35 according to this catalog.

Could mine be one of these ?

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


There are supposedly 35 "civilian" Schofield revolvers of the
first type or model. There are supposed to be around 649
civilian revolvers of the second type or model.

Having said that, I think I see the "US" stamp under the scratches.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[bigwagon]

The US marking is clearly visible under the attempt to obliterate it.

 

[7.62match]

I can make out the U.S. stamp under the scratches.

 

[Patbar]

Gosh, you see better than me ! I tried hundred of times to make out a "US" under the scratches and never succeeded.

On the photo below, could this be the "U" and was the marking so small ?

 

[GCSO584]

that's the top part of the S.

 

[opoefc]

The 35 Schofields assembled were all civilian 1st models in their own serial range of 1 to 35, plus there was another 1st model assembled from parts around the turn of the century for a S&W employee, and ser. # 0 was stamped on that gun. The "US" stamp was applied early in frame production and you will see that US stamp on civilian gun butts, as 1st model frames were used for the 1st model civilian guns, but you will not see the final inspectors cartouche on the civilian stocks. Ed

 

[Breakaway500]

Id like to see the rest of it..

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

This is how I see it.

Cheers!
Webb

 

[borntxn]

Webb is right, "US" looks fairly clear with a little enhancing and rotating.
....

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Id like to see the rest of it..

^^^THIS^^^

 

[BMur]

Obliterated

My guess is this gun was captured by an American Indian during the Indian Wars who took his knife and tried to scratch off the U.S. stamp. This was common in War with the Northern States. The scratches are consistent with it being purposely done and with a crude instrument. Definitely NOT sand paper! I can somehow hear profanity being belched when that person scratched the U.S. off that gun.

Murph

 

[Patbar]

Id like to see the rest of it..

First, thank you all ! I had never thought rotating my gun to see the "US" the other way.

Also, BMur, if what you wrote about my gun being captured by an American Indian is true, could the carving on the grips be of this origin ?

And, responding to Breakaway and Speedgunner, here is the rest of my Schofield :

 

[Mike0251]

Best I could do. Its pretty clear lol.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

What a great piece of history. If only it could talk. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BMur]

Indian artifact

Patbar,
The grip carving definitely supports the theory. Both the grip engraving and scratch markings appear to have been applied about the same time.

The more you read about the Indian Wars the more amazed you will be at how many skirmishes actually took place. Various studies report between 600-900 battles from after the Civil War until the turn of the century. The truth is likely a “much higher”number since these battles were poorly recorded or not at all. One can only guess at how many guns were lost or changed hands in those battles.

As an example, the area where my mountain property is close to Yosemite valley there were over 10,000 Miwok Indians that lived there before the discovery of GOLD in rattlesnake creek. I had no idea that many Indians lived there until I got involved with a small museum that needed some antique firearms identified. So, over 10,000 Indians simply disappeared from that Valley in a very short time. Hmmmm, where did they go? Nobody talks about it in that area but they know. All the tourists that visit Yosemite are totally oblivious to the thousands of unmarked graves they are walking, hiking, and driving over to witness the visual beauty of that area.

American Indians would often embellish a captured firearm with engravings, pins, etc. Proving it would be difficult. Do You have any history that came with the purchase?

Murph

 

[Patbar]

BMur, I've always been passionate by American history and I read a lot about the Indian wars.

And thank you so much for what I learned from you today ! I had long dreamed of having a Schofield and I love mine, but I love it even more now that you uncovered what must be a part of its fascinating history, because I bought it from a gun dealer and I had nothing to accompany it !

Thanks again.

 

[ol777gunnerz]

The more likely cause was someone using it to hammer something, which would have not been uncommon back then.

 

[Patbar]

The more likely cause was someone using it to hammer something, which would have not been nuncommon back then.

No, it is obvious that the scratches were intentionally made to erase the US marking because the rest of the butt and the grips don't show any trace of hammering.

 

[Dvus]

Patbar, contact the company I have listed below regarding any Indian markings on your Schofield. They researched a Colt Cavalry model that I have and were able to interpret markings on it that I thought were just scratches and dings. You could be very surprised what they can uncover.

The Guns of History, Inc.
5316 W. 33rd st.
Souix Falls, SD, 57106
605-941-7528