Page 169 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 314
LOT 316
Rare Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Target “Long Strap”
.38/44 Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 3843, 38-44
cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Offered here is a
rare “long strap” caliber marked variation of the S&W New Model No. 3 Target
Revolver, making it one of less than 100-150 manufactured in .38-44 caliber.
These long strap variations were later production revolvers with a longer top strap and cylinder. The
cylinder was lengthened from 1 7/16 inches to 1 9/16 inches. Adding to its rarity is the blue finish
which is far more rare than nickel plating for the New Model No. 3 Target series. The accompanying
factory letter confirms the long strap configuration, 6 1/2 inch barrel in .38-44 Gallery, target rear
sight and checkered hard rubber grips. The revolver was shipped on January 31, 1903, and delivered to Marcus Hartley Co. of New York City. Matching serial numbers are found on the butt, cylinder, barrel and barrel latch. The left side of the barrel has the rare late production caliber marking, and the rib has the one-line address. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 90% plus original bright blue finish with light thinning to brown on the right side of the barrel and front strap. Nearly all original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips are excellent with minimal handling evidence and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This high condition and rare “long strap” caliber marked configuration of the New Model No. 3 Target Revolver will make a great addition to any S&W collection.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,000
LOT 317
Very Rare Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3
Target Single Action Revolver in Rare .32-44
Caliber - Serial no. 32008, 32-44 cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib
bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. This is a very rare example of
a New Model No. 3 Target .32-44 Revolver serial numbered in the
regular .44 New Model No. 3 serial number range, one of only 50 known to have been
manufactured in this series. Matching serial numbers are found on the butt, cylinder,
barrel and barrel latch. The barrel rib has the one-line address, and the left side of the
barrel has the rare caliber designation “32-44 S&W CTG.” The period initials “HHV” in
attractive script on the bottom of the left grip panel are for H. H. Vanduesen, to whom this rare S&W was shipped on Oct. 9, 1903, per the factory records.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% original nickel finish with loss mostly at the muzzle end and faint aging. 80% original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips are also excellent with a few minor handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A highly attractive New Model No. 3 Target Revolver in rare .32-44 caliber.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,000
Excellent Smith & Wesson Model 3 American 1st Model Single
Action Revolver - Serial no. 3336, 44 S&W American cal., 8 inch
solid rib bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. Manufactured from 1870 to 1872, the
First Model American was the first top break, automatic ejecting revolver made
in the United States. Under contract to the U.S. Government Smith & Wesson
produced 1,000 of this model for the cavalry soldiers of the U.S. Army and the remainder for civilian
sales. The American model was introduced 3 years before the Colt Single Action Army revolver and
is probably, more than any other model, associated with the historic American West. As S&W expert
Roy Double pointed out over fifty years ago, “This was a work gun; a big, heavy-caliber holster gun
worn openly and ready to hand; a timely gun indigenous to America on the move and a part of America’s greatest adventures.” Difficult to obtain in any condition, this high condition original nickel American Model revolver is indeed a rare and desirable firearm. The barrel rib is stamped with the one-line address/patent dates marking. The right grip panel is numbered to the gun. Matching assembly numbers are found on the grip frame,
cylinder, barrel and barrel latch.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% plus original nickel plating with some scattered light flaking. 95% original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips are exceptionally fine with a tiny chip at the
toe (right panel) and a few minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. An extremely fine large frame Smith
& Wesson Top-Break .44 American 1st Model that will be a valued addition to any collection of 19th century American handguns!
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,000
LOT 315
Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action First Model Target Revolver - Serial no.
34333, 44 S&W Russian cal., 6 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Introduced in 1881. The butt has the S&W factory rework star, and the grip frame has
the October 1917 S&W factory rework date (“10.17”). The revolver has very unique and
unusual target sights (possibly fitted when the revolver was returned to the factory in 1917), the original 1
7/16 inch cylinder, and matching serial numbers on the butt, cylinder, barrel and barrel latch. According to this writer’s phone contact with S&W Historian Roy Jinks, this revolver was originally shipped to the New York City distributor M. W. Robinson on June 23, 1898.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining nearly 97% factory reapplied blue finish with some thinning to brown mostly on the grip straps and some minor handling marks. 95% plus of the case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. The grips are also very fine with a few blemishes in the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,750
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