What Russian model is this

[Midlife Crises]

Hello Forum
I recently purchased a #3 Russian revolver. I'd appreciate some help in identifying exactly what series or issue it is. The barrel top script begins and ends in what looks like a very small cross and is in english. It reads: SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS USA PAT. JAN 17&24 65 JULY 11 65 AUG 24 69 JAN 19 1875 REISSUE JULY 25 1871.
The butt has a small rectangular box containing the number 1874 and the number 627 stamped next to it. The number 627 also appears on the face of the cylinder, the under side of the latch and inside the latch area of the barrel. No other markings are legible and caliber is not indicated anywhere. I know it is in caliber 44 Russian by testing it with cartridges. It has a Lanyard ring on the butt and is Nickel plated with Ivory grips. The front sight is part of the barrel and is not a removable blade.
I gave it an extensive cleaning and reworked or replaced a few springs and have fired it a dozen times or so with BP rounds.
I also noticed it looks like the finger rest or hook was removed from the trigger guard before the nickel plating was applied.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

What you have there is a .44 S&W No. 3 Russian 3rd Model. Can you post
pics of the butt showing the '627' serial number? That is a unusually low serial
number. The New Model Russian (i.e. Russian 3rd Model) sold domestically
started after serial number 39,000 But this model was sold to various
countries and those were numbered in their own serial number ranges.

Your barrel legend is typical. Many of this model had barrel markings ending
with 'RUSSIAN MODEL' but some foreign customers did not like the Name
'RUSSIAN' on the guns they purchased. So, S&W used another stamp that
ended with the 'REISSUE' patent date. Here is a pic of the barrel legend on
my 3rd Model Russian.




Cheers!
Webb

 

[Midlife Crises]

Thank you so much for the reply. Lots of ware and old eyes make these numbers difficult to capture. Here is a shot of the butt and the cylinder showing the numbers.
The light has washed out the faint rectangular box with 1874 inside it in this shot.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Those pics look fine but I don't see the 1874 date in a box on the butt.
Here is a pic of mine.



Cheers!
Webb

 

[Midlife Crises]

Obviously mine has a few more scars. Here's an angle that shows the box better.

 

[zodraz]

Obviously mine has a few more scars. Here's an angle that shows the box better.

Wow,nice find. CONGRATS

 

[Ljoconnor]

Great grips! Cool old revolver!

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Okay. It looks like yours is from one of the foreign contracts that S&W had
with other countries. Are there any stampings or markings on any other
parts of the revolver? Unfortunately, your revolver has been heavily buffed
and the marking may have been polished off but look and report if you see
anything.

Cheers!
Webb