Yet another "what is it" thread

[goste]

Hello all,
Long time lurker here, but this will be my first post.

About 20 years ago, I did a engine swap for a gent that lived up the road from me. He stiffed me on the $, and a couple months later offered an old S&W in leu of the cash. I took the trade and never thought much about it, but now in this age of internet info, I'm trying to find out a little more about this pistol. I showed it to another Cop I work with, and he wants to trade me out of it. As I'm not really into the old west type stuff anymore, I think I may do it...

Here it goes.

Large frame single action chambered in .44 Russian, nickel plated that I'm sure has been redone, cause it just looks to good. Barrel lenght 6.5 has a serial # 1137x on the cyl face and barrel latch, and under the grip. not another mark on the thing that I can find. wood grips that don't have the S&W emblem.

I would assume, ( I know, I know), that when it was rebuffed for plateing the markings were buffed off. This pistol has a small area where the nickel if flakeing, and it looks to be nickel , or something silver under the plateing. I mean it's so shiney that I think it my be chrome plated. you can almost see yourself in it. a very pretty pistol, but......

Anyway, I sure hope one of you Gent's can maybe tell me something from the serial no????? Thanks a bunch

Caspar

 

[flash60601]

It sure would help if you could somehow post a couple pictures of this item.

Flash

 

[goste]

umm yea. i wish I could, but I haven't found instructions on how to do it that are "dumbed down" enough for me

 

[DCWilson]

Welcome to active participation in the forum.

I think what you describe might be a New Model No. 3 from about 1881 or so. This model was available with a 6.5" barrel. Other top break single action models in .44 Russian were not.

Look closely at the rib on top of the barrel and see if there are any patent dates stamped there, or small hollows that might be part of letters that were formerly there.

There is a thread in the Forum Office area that tells you how to use Photobucket to insert pictures in a post. The other option involves the "Manage Attachments" button on the page where you compose a post. Click on that and then select image files from your computer that you want to post along with your message. They will be uploaded as attachments, and will appear as thumbnails in your message.

 

[goste]

OK. I;m gonna try this, please no laughter.

 

[goste]

gonna try again, go ahead and laugh

 

[goste]

well we'll see now Oh MY GOSH, in 11 years on a computer, this is my first pic post, soory it bites

 

[goste]

 

[DCWilson]

That's a pretty nice looking New Model No. 3. I agree with you that it has been refinished, but from what I can see in the photos it was pretty well done.

The lanyard loop on the butt is not standard on the basic design and may point to production for a particular contract. The top break experts should be able to help you on that point.

 

[dogngun]

I don't know how much that guy owed you for that engine swap, but I think you got paid several times over.

I certainly would not sell it till I knew a lot more about it.

mark

 

[H Richard]

It looks to probably be a New Model #3, and even discounting a bunch for the re-finish it might possibly be bumping on 4 figures in value. I'll let the experts get closer.

 

[jimmyj]

It appears that your "Deadbeat" neighbor 'Stiffed" himself instead of you.
Its nice when the good guys win.

 

[goste]

Wow, I guess I'll hold off on swapping it for a Glock 17, and 4 Mags.

Is there anyway to tell what year it was made, by the serial #? I was worried about the grips not having the S&W lpgp, but I saw one in another thread(A table full of new model #3's) by Driftwood Johnson. and it has the same wood grips as three of those. In fact it looks just like the nickel plated one on the bottom.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the expert help..

 

[DCWilson]

Is there anyway to tell what year it was made, by the serial #?

In a post up above I guessed 1881, but after a little research I think it might be a year earlier. Call it 1880. Even if it was one of the famous S&W "delayed shipment" revolvers, it is still over 125 years old.

 

[goste]

Thanks DCWILSON, I really didn't know it was that old. I also got half a box of old ammo with it. I need to see if I can find it, I shot it 6 times when I got it cleaned it , and put it up..
Thanks again
caspar