Manufactured from 1870 to 1872, this is a very early production Smith & Wesson No. 3, 1st Model American revolver with a three digit serial number ("846"), and is one of approximately 8,000 revolvers. It is one of the first 1,500 guns S&W manufactured with vent hole (oil hole) in the rear extractor housing under barrel. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was sold on March 16, 1871 and shipped to U.S. government, National Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, with an 8 inch barrel and smooth walnut stocks. The factory letter lists the finish as blue, a recording error as the revolver has original nickel finish. The shipment was for 1,000 guns, 800 had blue finish and 200 had nickel finish. The revolver is listed by serial number in the "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" as one of the 1,000 U.S. Americans on page 105. The top barrel flat has the one-line S&W legend as well as "US." The replacement left grip panel has the restamped "OWA" U.S. sub-inspector's cartouche for Orville W. Ainsworth. The right grip panel is numbered to the gun. Matching assembly marks appear on the grip frame, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch.