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LOT 106
Famed Marksman and Olympian Walter Winans Shipped, Inscribed Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Special Long Extractor .455 Eley Target Single Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 25122, 455 eley cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, pearl grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver with a 6 1⁄2 inch barrel in .455 Eley, target sight, blue finish and black hard rubber grips when shipped on March 12, 1889 to famed marksman Walter Winans, London, England. This shipment was for two consecutively serialized units of this model in the same configuration. The second revolver was serial no. 25121. The Standard Catalog (page 103) confirms that Winans received 22 New Model No. 3 revolvers. For this revolver the sights and grips are period replacements, likely added by Winans and are the type of sights found on other New Model No. 3 target revolvers known to have been owned by Winans (see LOT 104 and LOT 1281 that are also in this auction). The revolver is fitted with a pinned blade front sight, special long extractor, heavy barrel, along with and “U” notch rear sight
and gold S&W medallion pearl grips. Winans’“WW” initials are inscribed above the caliber marking “455” behind the hammer. The front grip strap is inscribed with an unidentified Winans’ marking: “A 439.” British proofs appear on the left side of the barrel and on each cylinder flute. Matching serial numbers are found on the butt, cylinder, barrel and barrel latch. The barrel rib has the two-line address/patent dates marking. In 1889, when this revolver was shipped, Winans won the South London Rifle Club’s Championship trophy for the third year. His score was 290 out of a possible 294. He was one of the most famous and highly esteemed handgun shooters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “The Chicago Chronicle” put it best when it opined, “The finest revolver shot in the
world, so far as gallery practice is concerned, is probably Walter Winans, whose records at the galleries in London in off-hand shooting with heavy caliber revolvers has never been authentically beaten” (21 June 1896). Winans was a three time Olympic medalist winning the gold in running deer shooting in 1908 (double shot) and the silver in 1912 (team). He also won a gold medal in 1912 for his sculpture “An American Trotter”. He is the only American to win a medals in shooting and art. His Olympic career was not without controversy. At the 1908 Olympics, Winans’ eligibility as an American competitor was questioned because he had never set foot in the United States. Winans was born to American parents in St. Petersburg, Russia where he lived for the first 18 years of his life. Before taking up residence in England, Winans took the oath of allegiance at the U.S. Embassy. He did not visit the U.S. until he was 58 years old. To compete at the Olympic Games, Winans was required to swear his allegiance to the U.S. Consul General.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85% original bright blue finish with thinning to brown and high edge wear on the balance. 97% original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips are excellent with very limited handling marks and highly attractive fiery colors. Mechanically excellent. A rare
configuration high condition documented and inscribed New Model No. 3 owned by the
legendary marksman Walter Winans is a must have for the serious S&W collector.
Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection.
Estimate: 8,000 - 11,000