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

RARE ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NO. 3 THIRD MODEL RUSSIAN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. SN 41568. Cal. 44 Russian. Nickel finish with 6-1/2″ keyhole shape bbl, integral front sight with fixed rear sight on the bbl latch. Bbl address terminates with the patent date “AUG.24.69” and “RUSSIAN MODEL”. Trigger guard has the distinctive finger rest hook and the buttstrap is mounted with a factory sling swivel stud. It is further mounted with smooth 2-pc pearl grips with last three digits of the matching SN scratched inside each grip. Right heel of grip frame, under the grip, is stamped with assembly number “2412”, which number is also found on rear face of cyl, bbl latch & bbl. Revolver is beautifully engraved by renowned master engraver L.D. Nimschke with nearly full coverage wonderfully executed foliate arabesque patterns with very fine punch dot background. Left side of frame is engraved with the vignette in semi-relief, very well-executed bull elk head with fine stippled background. Right side of frame is engraved with the panel of a fan pattern overlaid with a large foliate arabesque pattern. Engraving extends over the ejector housing and sides of the bbl with each side having a 5-panel diamond pattern. The muzzle is engraved in a fine knurled pattern with identical knurled pattern on rear edge of cylinder. Cyl is also engraved with matching foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes. Top strap is engraved in diamond & dot patterns with snake & dot patterns surrounding the bbl address. Top edge of frame, behind the hammer, and top of backstrap at the hump are engraved with Mr. Nimschke’s distinctive crossed ribbon patterns. Backstrap is engraved with geometric patterns. Altogether an extremely beautiful and well-engraved, rare Smith & Wesson. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only 13,500 of these commercial revolvers produced in the period 1874-1878. Of that number very few are known engraved that survive today. This exact revolver is pictured on p. 284 of the book Smith & Wesson 1857-1945, Neal & Jinks, with credit to the Dr. R.L. Moore Collection. Accompanied by a copy of the collection sheet for this revolver from the R.L. Moore, Jr. collection where under “special data” he notes “came out of South Mexico 4/68. Belonged to rancher’s widow of Yucatan.” He lists the date of acquisition as 1968 from Hans Schenke. Also accompanied by a copy of a letter from renowned historian and author R.L. Wilson dated April 16, 1968 to Dr. Moore wherein he verifies the Nimschke engraving. PROVENANCE: Dr. R.L. Moore Collection; Jack Malloy; Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine plus, all matching including cyl & grips. Frame & bbl retain about 95% strong orig nickel with some minor wear on hump of frame and around the muzzle. Cyl has traces of nickel in the flutes, otherwise is mostly gray metal color. Hammer & trigger guard retain traces of faded case colors. Grips are sound with great fire. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore shows little evidence of having been used. 4-45284 JR43 (20,000-30,000)

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
	1622	$48,875.00	RARE ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NO. 3 THIRD MODEL RUSSIAN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. SN 41568. Cal. 44 Russian. Nickel finish with 6-1/2″ keyhole shape bbl, integral front sight with fixed rear sight on the bbl latch. Bbl address terminates with the patent date “AUG.24.69” and “RUSSIAN MODEL”. Trigger guard has the distinctive finger rest hook and the buttstrap is mounted with a factory sling swivel stud. It is further mounted with smooth 2-pc pearl grips with last three digits of the matching SN scratched inside each grip. Right heel of grip frame, under the grip, is stamped with assembly number “2412”, which number is also found on rear face of cyl, bbl latch & bbl. Revolver is beautifully engraved by renowned master engraver L.D. Nimschke with nearly full coverage wonderfully executed foliate arabesque patterns with very fine punch dot background. Left side of frame is engraved with the vignette in semi-relief, very well-executed bull elk head with fine stippled background. Right side of frame is engraved with the panel of a fan pattern overlaid with a large foliate arabesque pattern. Engraving extends over the ejector housing and sides of the bbl with each side having a 5-panel diamond pattern. The muzzle is engraved in a fine knurled pattern with identical knurled pattern on rear edge of cylinder. Cyl is also engraved with matching foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes. Top strap is engraved in diamond & dot patterns with snake & dot patterns surrounding the bbl address. Top edge of frame, behind the hammer, and top of backstrap at the hump are engraved with Mr. Nimschke’s distinctive crossed ribbon patterns. Backstrap is engraved with geometric patterns. Altogether an extremely beautiful and well-engraved, rare Smith & Wesson. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only 13,500 of these commercial revolvers produced in the period 1874-1878. Of that number very few are known engraved that survive today. This exact revolver is pictured on p. 284 of the book Smith & Wesson 1857-1945, Neal & Jinks, with credit to the Dr. R.L. Moore Collection. Accompanied by a copy of the collection sheet for this revolver from the R.L. Moore, Jr. collection where under “special data” he notes “came out of South Mexico 4/68. Belonged to rancher’s widow of Yucatan.” He lists the date of acquisition as 1968 from Hans Schenke. Also accompanied by a copy of a letter from renowned historian and author R.L. Wilson dated April 16, 1968 to Dr. Moore wherein he verifies the Nimschke engraving. PROVENANCE: Dr. R.L. Moore Collection; Jack Malloy; Robert Howard Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine plus, all matching including cyl & grips. Frame & bbl retain about 95% strong orig nickel with some minor wear on hump of frame and around the muzzle. Cyl has traces of nickel in the flutes, otherwise is mostly gray metal color. Hammer & trigger guard retain traces of faded case colors. Grips are sound with great fire. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore shows little evidence of having been used. 4-45284 JR43 (20,000-30,000) 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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