Smith & Wesson No. 3 Single Action Target Revolver with S&W factory letter. The letter states that this revolver was shipped from S&W to Von Lengerke & Antoine in Paris, France on July 24, 1889. The letter describes the revolver as caliber .44 Russian with a 6.5-inch barrel, blue finish, target sights and checkered walnut grips. The revolver has a high polish blue finish with color casehardened trigger guard, trigger and knurled spur hammer. The barrel has a steel target front sight and screw-adjustable target rear sight. The checkered walnut grips have diamond-shaped escutcheons surrounding the grip screws. The top of the barrel rib is roll-stamped with the two-line Smith & Wesson address and patent dates. The left side of the barrel is engraved with the dealers name and address "AD. JANSEN, ARQUEBUSIER DE S.M. LE ROI, 27 RUE DE LA MADELEINE, BRUXELLES,". A "star/P" proofmark is stamped on the left side of the barrel and rear face of the cylinder. A Liege proof is also stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. The full serial number "25812" is stamped on the butt and on the rear face of the cylinder.

Very good. The revolver retains approximately 75% thinning of the original high polish blue finish. Most of the thinning is concentrated on the rib and the forward portion of the barrel near the muzzle. The frame has nearly all of the blue finish with some scattered handling marks and some thinning on the back strap. The cylinder shows turn marks and some finish wear on the leading edge. The trigger guard has 90% or more of the color casehardened finish and the hammer has about 85%. The grips are very good with crisp checkering and moderate handling wear. The barrel markings and serial numbers are sharp. This is a very good example of a scarce S&W New Model No. 3 Single Action Target Revolver.