What model is this?

[LouisianaJoe]

45 Colt will not fit. 44 special empty case will so it could be 44 Russian or 44 Special. I will try to find an unfired 44 Special to try.


Serial Number is 33xx

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


What you have is a New Model No: 3 Double Action, First Model.
These were first offered in .44 S&W Russian but later, a
"Frontier" model was added that chambered for the .44 WCF
(i.e. .44-40). The difference was the length of the cylinder.
Most .44 Russians have a 1-7/16" long cylinder and the "Fron-
tier" had a 1-9/16" long cylinder.

The Frontier wasn't a good seller and some of them were given
new cylinders in .44 Russian to fill sales so keep this in mind
when determining caliber.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[LouisianaJoe]

Thanks for the info. The cylinder wall is straight so it must be the 44 Russian.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Thanks for the info. The cylinder wall is straight so it must be the 44 Russian.

I hope it isn't straight through with no throat. Just to be sure,
measure the diameter of the chambers near the breach. The
.44 Russian chambers should be close to .462" and the .44-
40 (44 WCF) chambers are .475" or close to.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[BMur]

DA Frontier

It’s a 44/40 WCF Frontier DA. Nice one too.

Likely about 1886. Black powder only! No smokeless loads for this old Gal.

Murph

 

[deadin]

And if you shoot it much DA, you will have a forearm like Popeye.

 

[LouisianaJoe]

Tried 44-40 in it and it fits.