The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver with a 6 1/2 inch barrel in .44 S&W Russian when shipped as a sample revolver for the U.S. Treasury Department on March 16, 1881 and delivered to H.F. French of the U.S. Treasury Department, Washington, D.C. At this time, H.F. French was the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Department. Later the U.S. Treasury Department received at least 10 New Model No. 3s falling in the 17,100 serial number range, which were shipped in 1882 and delivered to U.S. Postmaster Capt. George Cook. The revolver has the two-line barrel rib legend ending with the reissue patent date, nicely figured and checkered walnut original grips and matching serial numbers on the butt, right grip panel, cylinder, barrel and barrel latch. The revolver is listed by serial number as a U.S. Treasury sample gun in Supica and Nahas' "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" on page 106.

Excellent, retaining nearly 97% original blue finish with speckling of brown on the balance. Nearly all of the original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips are also excellent with some minor handling marks mostly at the butt and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. A superb and historically significant U.S. Treasury Department New Model No. 3 Sample Revolver that is a must have for the serious S&W collector! You will be hard pressed to find a better example!