What is this old revolver?

[Thiokol]

Here are some pictures of an old top break that appears to be a .44 rimfire. I don't believe that it is actually a S&W but I would like to know exactly what it is. Here's what I know:

1. The 8" barrel is marked on the top "Model Smith & Wesson New York".

2. The cylinder measures 1.5 " and is stamped with a "3" on the outer edge.

3. The grips have U.S. cartouches.

4. US is stamped on the knuckle.

5. The left side of the grip frame is stamped with a crown over the letters GM and a letter J.

6. There are no other markings anywhere on the revolver.

 

[Jim Watson]

Even Zhuk thinks it is a Turkish .44 rimfire (to go with their 1866 Winchesters) variant of the second model Russian.
But it is not, the trigger guard and set back front sight are not S&W, although the rest is pretty close. The US markings are bogus and I don't know what the (crown) GM signifies.
The "Model Smith & Wesson, New York" is something I would expect of a Spanish knockoff.

 

[glowe]

Definitely a copy made in Europe or maybe in Turkey. The crown GM, however, makes me think Europe again?? The hammer is all wrong, as well as the ratchet pawl. All parts have been heavily buffed at some point in its life.

 

[jleiper]

Definitely a copy of a third model. These were made mostly in Liege and Spain. Unusual to see the US marks on a copy. I would guess this one to be Liege (Belgium).
Joe

 

[JSR III]

Maybe the GM stands for Gander Mountain?????

 

[Club Gun Fan]

I had a Spanish copy of an American with that same proof. It had no other marking on it,but, I suspect the markings were buffed off looooong ago, just like this one. I hope this isn't another useless post like some folks.

 

[jleiper]

These are actually interesting variations. There were enough variations you could make a rather large collection.


Here's a picture of one with a real Smith.



Joe

 

[Thiokol]

These are actually interesting variations. There were enough variations you could make a rather large collection.

Here's a picture of one with a real Smith.

Joe

Joe,

Do you have any idea of how old these reproductions are?

 

[glowe]

There is no way to document age, but the most likely production range for European 44 Russian copies would have been from the mid-1870s through the 1880s. By the late 1880s, there were much improved revolvers to copy.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Those weren't Reproductions in the sense we used the word now. Unauthorized copies of S&W revolvers were a mainstay of the Latin American firearms trade in late 1800s to mid 1900W's .

 

[Thiokol]

Thank you all for the information. I appreciate your help.