INCREDIBLY RARE PANEL SCENE ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NO. 3 COMMERCIAL 2ND MODEL RUSSIAN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER, ONE OF TWO KNOWN IN RARE CALIBER.

INCREDIBLY RARE PANEL SCENE ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NO. 3 COMMERCIAL 2ND MODEL RUSSIAN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER, ONE OF TWO KNOWN IN RARE CALIBER. SN 35648. Cal. 44 American. According to Smith & Wesson, The Pioneer Single Action Models, Parsons (1957), on p. 130, this is one of two 2nd Model (Old Model) Russian revolvers that were chambered for the .44 American cartridge rather than the standard .44 Russian caliber. Parsons notes the obvious rarity of these two revolvers and confirms they were blue finished, fitted with ivory grips, and that they were sold to M.W. Robinson, Smith & Wesson’s largest distributor, in May 1878, during an inventory closeout of discontinued models. While the revolver in this auction is not specifically identified by SN in the Parsons book, the other of the two, SN 33694, still in a prominent S&W collection today, is listed by SN and until recently has been the only example known to astute collectors for over 60 years. This revolver has blue & gold finish with 7″ ribbed keyhole shape bbl, gold wash pinned half moon front sight with 1-line address having “AUG 24 69” and “RUSSIAN MODEL” the last of that address. Trigger guard has the integral finger rest hook and the buttstrap contains a lanyard swivel. Mounted with smooth 2-pc ivory grips matching numbered on inside of each grip to this revolver. Cyl, hammer, trigger guard & front sight are all gold washed. Revolver is spectacularly engraved by master engraver, L.D. Nimschke, with sweeping full coverage, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns on the frame which also incorporates the very rare vignette of a bull elk’s head on each side. Engraving extends over sides of bbl and ejector housing with an “X”-pattern also on both sides of bbl. The area behind the hammer slot and top strap are engraved to match. Backstrap is engraved in geometric patterns and bottom front of frame is engraved with a detailed hunter’s star. Cyl is engraved in foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes. All the engraving has a fine punch dot background. Right heel of grip frame, under the grip, is stamped with the assembly number “17148” which number is also found on the rear face of cyl & bbl, and the bbl latch. The SN of this revolver is in the usual range of commercial 2nd Model Russian revolvers, produced in the period 1874-1878 with only a very few of them having been engraved and extremely few are known with game scenes and gold highlights, surely making this an extremely rare Smith & Wesson revolver. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl & frame retain about 60-70% bright orig blue with the balance a well blended patina; cyl retains bright gold wash in the flutes with the outer diameter thin gold wash and exposed undercoat silver; hammer, trigger guard & front sight retain most of their orig gold wash. Grips are sound with no discernible flaws and retain a wonderful golden ivory patina. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-46295 JR205 (25,000-35,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	2218	$17,250.00	INCREDIBLY RARE PANEL SCENE ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NO. 3 COMMERCIAL 2ND MODEL RUSSIAN SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER, ONE OF TWO KNOWN IN RARE CALIBER. SN 35648. Cal. 44 American. According to Smith & Wesson, The Pioneer Single Action Models, Parsons (1957), on p. 130, this is one of two 2nd Model (Old Model) Russian revolvers that were chambered for the .44 American cartridge rather than the standard .44 Russian caliber. Parsons notes the obvious rarity of these two revolvers and confirms they were blue finished, fitted with ivory grips, and that they were sold to M.W. Robinson, Smith & Wesson’s largest distributor, in May 1878, during an inventory closeout of discontinued models. While the revolver in this auction is not specifically identified by SN in the Parsons book, the other of the two, SN 33694, still in a prominent S&W collection today, is listed by SN and until recently has been the only example known to astute collectors for over 60 years. This revolver has blue & gold finish with 7″ ribbed keyhole shape bbl, gold wash pinned half moon front sight with 1-line address having “AUG 24 69” and “RUSSIAN MODEL” the last of that address. Trigger guard has the integral finger rest hook and the buttstrap contains a lanyard swivel. Mounted with smooth 2-pc ivory grips matching numbered on inside of each grip to this revolver. Cyl, hammer, trigger guard & front sight are all gold washed. Revolver is spectacularly engraved by master engraver, L.D. Nimschke, with sweeping full coverage, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns on the frame which also incorporates the very rare vignette of a bull elk’s head on each side. Engraving extends over sides of bbl and ejector housing with an “X”-pattern also on both sides of bbl. The area behind the hammer slot and top strap are engraved to match. Backstrap is engraved in geometric patterns and bottom front of frame is engraved with a detailed hunter’s star. Cyl is engraved in foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes. All the engraving has a fine punch dot background. Right heel of grip frame, under the grip, is stamped with the assembly number “17148” which number is also found on the rear face of cyl & bbl, and the bbl latch. The SN of this revolver is in the usual range of commercial 2nd Model Russian revolvers, produced in the period 1874-1878 with only a very few of them having been engraved and extremely few are known with game scenes and gold highlights, surely making this an extremely rare Smith & Wesson revolver. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl & frame retain about 60-70% bright orig blue with the balance a well blended patina; cyl retains bright gold wash in the flutes with the outer diameter thin gold wash and exposed undercoat silver; hammer, trigger guard & front sight retain most of their orig gold wash. Grips are sound with no discernible flaws and retain a wonderful golden ivory patina. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-46295 JR205 (25,000-35,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 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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