What year is this?

[Masterpiece]

I just updated the pics and i think your right!

Cronus73,

Thanks so much for posting the add'l photos...Although given what I see also poses another question I'd like to see a Photo of!!

Reason I ask is since the Japanese Arsenal-Installed Lanyard Ring was installed through the existing Ser. No. & relocated sideways to the Rear I also took notice I believe Your Revolver also looks to have been cut for a Shoulder Stock as well!!

That said...Could you possibly take a Photo of the Revolver's Back Strap to see if a hole is found up close to the Upper Knuckle?? I've also attached a Photo below of the area so you know where to look!!

 

[Masterpiece]

Yes it does have another hole on the back and i never would have thought it came with a stock. You guys are amazing with this stuff. I wanna learn all i can about it. Ive had it about 3 days now and i cant put this thing down lol

Cronus73,

Even though Webb beat me to the punch "Again" with his comment...Thanks so much for verifying Your Revolver looks to have been Factory Cut for a Shoulder Stock...This would also explain why the Ser. No. was originally stamped offset towards the Front before the Japanese installed their Lanyard Ring through the Orig. Ser. No. relocating the Ser. No. sideways to where it now exists!!

 

[Cronus73]

So is there a chance it was an aftermarket lanyard swivel that was installed in japan or are these ONLY done that way in japan? And im definitely ganna have to save up for one of those official letters with all the info lol

 

[TripleLock]

As others have already stated, the only way to know the exact ship date is to request a Letter of Authenticity from the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation:

Letters – Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation

But, I have found these two threads to be useful in estimating when a New Model No.3 might have shipped:

New Model 3 - Ship dates by SN index

Original New Model #3: Chart of shipping dates

Jim

 

[Cronus73]

Also where did you guys learn about misc information like the lanyard swivel being added and the sn# being restamped id there youube videos about the history of these or books or something? Im not really interested in general smith and wesson info but i wanna learn all i can about this specific model

 

[Masterpiece]

So is there a chance it was an aftermarket lanyard swivel that was installed in japan or are these ONLY done that way in japan?

Cronus73,

In regards to your inquiry as to the style of Lanyard Ring on Your Revolver "Only" being installed on Japanese-Shipped NM#3's after they arrived in Japan...I can only add this!!

I've always had a "Very" special interest in these Japanese-Shipped NM#3's...Especially those shipped with Nickel Finishes...And in the 50+ yrs I've been studying & tracking those Revolvers...It's been my experience that style Lanyard Ring is only found on Japanese-shipped NM#3's!! I suppose there could be others...But to date I've never encountered one in that style on a NM#3 shipped elsewhere!! Hope that answers your inquiry!!

I'd also like to add...I certainly hope you are seriously entertaining "Lettering" Your Revolver...Especially so being if it "Letters" having been shipped to take a Factory Shoulder Stock...It will be the "Only" one to date that I'm aware of...Especially on a Factory Nickel NM#3 shipped to Japan!!

 

[Masterpiece]

Also where did you guys learn about misc information like the lanyard swivel being added and the Sn# being re-stamped id there you tube videos about the history of these or books or something?

Cronus73,

I believe when you look over my last post...You'll gather that all it'll likely take is 50+ yrs or so of studying & tracking NM#3's to gain insight into just what's-what...Ha!!-Ha!!

And as far as I know...I'm unaware of any other way of doing it given I never heard tell of any You-Tube Video or Specific Books explaining the exact details of these Japanese-Shipped NM#3 Revolvers!!

I could be wrong, but after as many years as I've been keeping track of NM#3's...I believe I've would have heard about a good source by now!! Of course that's only my personal opinion & I've been known to have been wrong before...Not often mind you, but I'm always willing to hear if there's info out there I'm unaware of...Ha!!-Ha!!

 

[Cronus73]

So your saying if it shipped to japan it will be the first one youve seen that came with a shoulder stock? Lol the history of this thing is so cool to me

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,


In my case, I gleaned the information by reading various books
over the past 30+ years. I started out with Smith & Wesson
1857 -1945 by Neal and Jinks, The History of Smith & Wesson
by Jinks, Smith & Wesson Revolvers by Parsons and The
Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson by Supica and Nahas
are the most used references. Of course there are magazine
articles I've read and are too numerous to list here.

You see, revolver collecting is not just about the guns; it is a
study of History and events that surround the period of time
these items were made.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[Cronus73]

If they were shipped to japan were they used in any wars?

 

[mmaher94087]

I/we could give you more information if we had the complete serial number. The most that I can make out is 233_8. I'll see if I can find a serial number close to 233_8 in a reference soft bound book "The Japanese Choose the Smith & Wesson".

 

[Masterpiece]

I/we could give you more information if we had the complete serial number. The most that I can make out is 233_8. I'll see if I can find a serial number close to 233_8 in a reference soft bound book "The Japanese Choose the Smith & Wesson".

Mike,

After doing a bit of editing & enhancing Cronus73's Photos of the Butt...I'm pretty well assured the Full Ser. No. is 23308!! And by the way...There's no direct assoc. by Ser. No. in Franks' Book making note other than what I originally posted!! That being...His Revolver most likely shipped in one of the two large shipments to Takata in either Jun. or Aug. of 1887!!

Even given that...If possibly the OP could post a couple Photos of the Cyl. Face Ser. No. as well as the underside of the Barrel Latch...Both of which he's noted match...We could make a more decisive confirmation as my assumption being correct or not!!

Also a side note came to mind earlier this evening I'd forgotten all about...Being His Revolver looks to have the Orig. Nickel Finish...There's always the remote possibility His Revolver being Nickel may have shipped much later on Dec.29th,1894 with the exception of 4 that I have no info as being "Lettered" as Japanese-Shipped Nickel NM#3's have that I've been tracking for all these years were!!

Not a guarantee it was...Just that with the exception of 4 of the 15 I have noted in the 21,000-24,000 Ser. No. Range with Original Nickel Finish originally thought to have been shipped in one of those two large earlier shipments...Have now after being "Lettered"...Shipped Dec.29th,1894!!

Hopefully when he sees this Post he'll send along some more Photos for us to look over!! *Hint!-Hint!*~Cronus73...Ha!!-Ha!!

 

[murphydog]

If they were shipped to japan were they used in any wars?

No way to tell with an individual gun, but given the time frame when they were issued to the Imperial Japanese Navy they were probably used in the Russo-Japanese War and WW I. More than a few were also seen during the Pacific "island hopping" campaigns of WW II; by that time Japan was desperate for small arms and threw everything they had into the war.

 

[Cronus73]

Heres more pics hope this helps!

Heres more pics hope this helps!

 

[Cronus73]

And some more

And some more

 

[Cronus73]

If you guys need more specific pics of something let me know and ill take more when i get home this afternoon and the complete sn# is 23308

 

[Masterpiece]

More than a few were also seen during the Pacific "island hopping" campaigns of WW II; by that time Japan was desperate for small arms and threw everything they had into the war.

Alan,

Funny you should make mention of NM#3's also found being used during WWII...Fact is Two of the Nickel Japanese-Shipped NM#3's I've previously owned were relieved from Japanese Officers during several of those "Island Hopping" Campaigns you made mention of...Just thought this may be of interest to some!!

 

[Cronus73]

How do you know thats where they came from did you have them lettered?

 

[Masterpiece]

How do you know that's where they came from did you have them lettered?

Cronus73,

While I did have them "Lettered" eventually to confirm to whom & when they were shipped to Japan...The information I just posted came from family members of the Soldiers that brought them back to the states after returning from the war!!

And just so you know...As far as I'm concerned...This the icing on the cake so to speak as to confirming the background as to how they were used during the course of their term of use...As well as by whom!! A great interest to myself...Especially so being I've studied these NM#3's most of my life!!

I'd also like to say thanks you for all the add'l photos you just posted...They also confirm my previous speculation of the Full Ser. No. being 23308!!

Thanks Again for taking the time to post them as they'll be a big help with my ongoing research of these Japanese-Shipped Revolvers...Especially those shipped with Nickel Finishes!!

 

[Cronus73]

So in summary it most likely shipped to japan in 1887 with a buttstock attatchment, where they then added a lanyard swivel and restamped the SN# sideways on the butt? So it was most likely made anywhere between 1878 and 1887? Im definitely ganna get it lettered but you guys definitely need to get together and write a book or something lol this is more information than ive been able to find anywhere else online or on facebook groups asking about it
Ps i didnt get a good pic of it but it looks like the lanyard loop retaining pin was made from an old nail lol one end is flat but the other looks like they rounded the tip of a nail so you can barely still see 4 angled flats on it