VERY RARE ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NO. 3 THIRD MODEL RUSSIAN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER.

VERY RARE ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NO. 3 THIRD MODEL RUSSIAN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. SN 49727. Cal. 44 Russian. Silver & gold finish with 6-1/2″ keyhole shape bbl, integral front sight and 1-line address with last patent date “AUG 24 69”. It has the distinctive finger rest hook on trigger guard and a lanyard loop in buttstrap. Mounted with 2-pc smooth pearl grips. Bbl & frame are silver finished with gold washed cyl, hammer & trigger guard. Trigger is fire blued. Revolver has nearly full coverage spectacular, intertwined, foliate arabesque patterns by renowned master engraver L.D. Nimschke. Bottom of muzzle is engraved “L.D.N. / N.Y.” This is a most unusual signature for Mr. Nimschke in that there are few, if any, authenticated, signed Nimschke engraved handguns. One scroll on left side of frame terminates in a flower blossom and right side of bbl has a floral & fan pattern. Top of back strap is engraved in Mr. Nimschke’s distinctive crossed ribbon pattern and with flower blossoms. Cyl is engraved with counterpoint blank panels surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes. Rear edge of cyl has a beautiful zig zag pattern border. Left side of bbl is engraved in two panels “W.C. DODGE’S” “PATENT EXTRACTOR”. It has been reliably reported to this cataloger that this revolver was a presentation from W.C. Dodge, who patented the extractor on these revolvers, to Gen. William Wing Loring. Page 59 of the book L.D. Nimschke Firearms Engraver, Wilson, pictures a smoke pull of a Nimschke engraved shield inscribed “Presented / to / Gen.’l Loring / by W.C. Dodge / Inventor / 1876”. Apparently this revolver was originally presented in a case which has since been lost to history. Gen. Loring was an officer during the Seminole Wars, the Mexican War and on the Texas frontier. He served as a General Officer in the Confederate Army and following the War served as Commander and Chief of the Egyptian Army. He died in 1886. This revolver resided in the famous William M. Locke Collection until his death in 1973 when it was obtained by Bill Bailey. It remained in Mr. Bailey’s collection until a sale was brokered by Jack Lewis from Mr. Bailey to Mr. Howard. The third model Russian was made in fairly large quantities, however very few are known engraved and of those extremely few are so profusely engraved. Mr. Howard’s collection notes verify some of the above information and further adds that this exact revolver is pictured on pp. 118-119 of Smith & Wesson Revolvers, Parsons. PROVENANCE: Bill Bailey Collection; William M. Locke Collection; Jack Lewis Jr.; Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains 40-50% silver finish with the balance gray metal patina that is nearly indistinguishable from the silver plating; cyl retains strong gold wash in flutes and rear face with about 30-40% gold wash on front face; hammer retains about 50-60% gold wash with the top & back edges turned dark; trigger guard retains gold wash on the sides and rear edge with the outer edge exposed silver plating; grips are sound with great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with two or three small spots of pitting. Altogether a rare Smith & Wesson in fine condition. 4-45276 JR189 (25,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1621	$112,125.00	VERY RARE ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NO. 3 THIRD MODEL RUSSIAN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. SN 49727. Cal. 44 Russian. Silver & gold finish with 6-1/2″ keyhole shape bbl, integral front sight and 1-line address with last patent date “AUG 24 69”. It has the distinctive finger rest hook on trigger guard and a lanyard loop in buttstrap. Mounted with 2-pc smooth pearl grips. Bbl & frame are silver finished with gold washed cyl, hammer & trigger guard. Trigger is fire blued. Revolver has nearly full coverage spectacular, intertwined, foliate arabesque patterns by renowned master engraver L.D. Nimschke. Bottom of muzzle is engraved “L.D.N. / N.Y.” This is a most unusual signature for Mr. Nimschke in that there are few, if any, authenticated, signed Nimschke engraved handguns. One scroll on left side of frame terminates in a flower blossom and right side of bbl has a floral & fan pattern. Top of back strap is engraved in Mr. Nimschke’s distinctive crossed ribbon pattern and with flower blossoms. Cyl is engraved with counterpoint blank panels surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes. Rear edge of cyl has a beautiful zig zag pattern border. Left side of bbl is engraved in two panels “W.C. DODGE’S” “PATENT EXTRACTOR”. It has been reliably reported to this cataloger that this revolver was a presentation from W.C. Dodge, who patented the extractor on these revolvers, to Gen. William Wing Loring. Page 59 of the book L.D. Nimschke Firearms Engraver, Wilson, pictures a smoke pull of a Nimschke engraved shield inscribed “Presented / to / Gen.’l Loring / by W.C. Dodge / Inventor / 1876”. Apparently this revolver was originally presented in a case which has since been lost to history. Gen. Loring was an officer during the Seminole Wars, the Mexican War and on the Texas frontier. He served as a General Officer in the Confederate Army and following the War served as Commander and Chief of the Egyptian Army. He died in 1886. This revolver resided in the famous William M. Locke Collection until his death in 1973 when it was obtained by Bill Bailey. It remained in Mr. Bailey’s collection until a sale was brokered by Jack Lewis from Mr. Bailey to Mr. Howard. The third model Russian was made in fairly large quantities, however very few are known engraved and of those extremely few are so profusely engraved. Mr. Howard’s collection notes verify some of the above information and further adds that this exact revolver is pictured on pp. 118-119 of Smith & Wesson Revolvers, Parsons. PROVENANCE: Bill Bailey Collection; William M. Locke Collection; Jack Lewis Jr.; Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains 40-50% silver finish with the balance gray metal patina that is nearly indistinguishable from the silver plating; cyl retains strong gold wash in flutes and rear face with about 30-40% gold wash on front face; hammer retains about 50-60% gold wash with the top & back edges turned dark; trigger guard retains gold wash on the sides and rear edge with the outer edge exposed silver plating; grips are sound with great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with two or three small spots of pitting. Altogether a rare Smith & Wesson in fine condition. 4-45276 JR189 (25,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2012 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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