This revolver is listed/documented by its serial number in the "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" by Jim Supica & Richard Nahas on page 91 and in "Smith & Wesson American Model" by Charles Pate on page 192 as one of the 1,000 Model 3s that was purchased by the U.S. government in 1871. Compounding the significance of this revolver is the rarely observed oil hole (located on the rear of the extractor housing on the bottom of the barrel lug) as found on the first 1,500 or so of this model. The S&W American Model was the first cartridge revolver adopted by the U.S. military and saw use in the Indian Wars as it was reported to have been issued to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Cavalry. Surviving examples of U.S. martial Model 3 Americans, especially early production oil hole examples, are scarce and highly desirable in any condition. The revolver is pictured and identified in Dean Boorman's "The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms" on page 106. The frame carries U.S. Ordnance Department "P" proof on the right side of the frame next to the recoil shield. The desirable U.S. Orville W. Ainsworth sub-inspector's "A" initial (faint) appears on the left side of the top strap. The revolver lacks a visible "US" marking usually found on the barrel rib, and was removed during the period of use. The right grip panel is numbered to another gun. Matching assembly marks appears on the grip frame, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. The side plate is crudely period inscribed with the name "Frank/Weber." Frank Weber has yet to be identified but consignor assigned attribution to Civil War veteran and POW Frank Weber (1841-1903) who served in Company G, Minnesota 9th Infantry Regiment (mustered out on August 22, 1865). Provenance: The Supica Collection

Good as a true survivor of the Indian Wars, displaying all the characteristics of spending a lifetime in a challenging environment that was the Western Frontier. Mechanically needs work.