VERY RARE PRESENTATION PAIR OF CASED ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NEW MODEL #3 SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS.

VERY RARE PRESENTATION PAIR OF CASED ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NEW MODEL #3 SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS. Cal. 44 Russian. SN 718 & 5203. Spectacular early revolvers with 6-1/2″ keyhole ribbed bbls with pinned half moon front sights and extraordinary checkered pearl grips. The frames, bbls and cylinders are all beautifully engraved in New York style, probably Nimschke with 75-80% coverage fine foliate arabesque patterns. The cylinders have engraving patterns on the high points with delicate dots, dashes and arrows in the flutes on one revolver and a squiggly line in the other flutes. The bbls, frames and trigger guards are nickel plated while the cylinder and latch on one are gold washed, the other has silver or nickel plating on these parts. The 2-piece pearl grips have checkered diamond patterns around the escutcheons with scallop patterns around the edges of the butt and at the toes with the checkering extending around the bottom of the butt. They are accompanied by their original spectacular rosewood case that has extremely beautiful grain patterns with a 2″ brass shield in the lid engraved with the initials “WCL”. The bottom of the interior is French fitted in purple velvet lining with compartments for the revolvers, a small Dixon oiler, a fine small English style rosewood handled turn screw and an English style wiping rod with ebony shaft, brass tip and ivory handle. The center of the case is a cartridge block which contains 32 rds of original, unmarked, large-primer ammunition. Inside the lid is lined with white satin divided into trapezoidal patterns with a rectangle in the center which is imprinted “PRESENTED / BY THE MEMBERS OF HIS COMMAND / -TO- / CAPT. WILLIAM C. LITTLE / OAKLAND LIGHT CAVALRY / UNATTACHED, SECOND BRIGADE, / -N.G.C. / AS A TESTIMONIAL OF THEIR ESTEEM AND REGARD / OAKLAND, JANUARY 1. 1880”.

A brief internet search for Capt. Little and the Oakland Light Cavalry disclosed a small amount of information. It appears that the Oakland Light Cavalry was in existence as early as 1863, and possibly earlier, as there is a mention of Capt. Little of the San Francisco City Guard and the Oakland Light Cavalry being involved with the organizing of a huge party in San Francisco for the visiting Russian fleet on November 17, 1863. There are a number of other references to the Oakland Light Cavalry which will eventually reveal more detail regarding this unit. Accompanied by Smith & Wesson factory letters identifying these revolvers as having been shipped March 1, 1880 to M. W. Robinson, New York City, NY. The letters state that Robinson was Smith & Wesson’s largest distributor and that these revolvers were in a shipment of 60 units in the same configuration, nickel finish and checkered black hard rubber grips.

CONDITION: Revolver #718 is fine to very fine, unfired, retaining about 60% original nickel and about 50% original gold wash. The mechanics are crisp with brilliant shiny bore. The grips are crisp with a small stain on the right side and age lines in both sides. Revolver #5203 retains 85-90% original nickel with the cylinder being mostly a gray patina. The grips have a couple small stains, otherwise are crisp and bright with a tiny age line on the right side. It also appears to be unfired with crisp mechanics and brilliant shiny bore. The areas of missing finish on both these revolvers are lightly rusted with a spot or two of heavier rust particularly on the front and back straps. This set was reportedly stored in a basement in a humid climate for many, many years without care or attention. The case is very fine on the exterior with light nicks, scratches and dings and retains about 95% original varnish. The lid lining is yellowed and lightly soiled with a rub from a revolver cylinder. The velvet lining is worn and stained from the humid storage and all the cartridges have oxidized and frozen in the cartridge block. The cartridge block has broken loose from the case. The oiler and turn screw are fine, unfortunately the ebony rod is broken from the ivory handle.

This is an extremely rare set that a little care will restore to a much more presentable condition. A little more research on Capt. Little and the Oakland Light Cavalry in the San Francisco area should disclose substantially more information regarding this officer. 4-57533 JR585 (25,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2006

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
	266	$28,750.00	VERY RARE PRESENTATION PAIR OF CASED ENGRAVED SMITH & WESSON NEW MODEL #3 SINGLE ACTION REVOLVERS. Cal. 44 Russian. SN 718 & 5203. Spectacular early revolvers with 6-1/2″ keyhole ribbed bbls with pinned half moon front sights and extraordinary checkered pearl grips. The frames, bbls and cylinders are all beautifully engraved in New York style, probably Nimschke with 75-80% coverage fine foliate arabesque patterns. The cylinders have engraving patterns on the high points with delicate dots, dashes and arrows in the flutes on one revolver and a squiggly line in the other flutes. The bbls, frames and trigger guards are nickel plated while the cylinder and latch on one are gold washed, the other has silver or nickel plating on these parts. The 2-piece pearl grips have checkered diamond patterns around the escutcheons with scallop patterns around the edges of the butt and at the toes with the checkering extending around the bottom of the butt. They are accompanied by their original spectacular rosewood case that has extremely beautiful grain patterns with a 2″ brass shield in the lid engraved with the initials “WCL”. The bottom of the interior is French fitted in purple velvet lining with compartments for the revolvers, a small Dixon oiler, a fine small English style rosewood handled turn screw and an English style wiping rod with ebony shaft, brass tip and ivory handle. The center of the case is a cartridge block which contains 32 rds of original, unmarked, large-primer ammunition. Inside the lid is lined with white satin divided into trapezoidal patterns with a rectangle in the center which is imprinted “PRESENTED / BY THE MEMBERS OF HIS COMMAND / -TO- / CAPT. WILLIAM C. LITTLE / OAKLAND LIGHT CAVALRY / UNATTACHED, SECOND BRIGADE, / -N.G.C. / AS A TESTIMONIAL OF THEIR ESTEEM AND REGARD / OAKLAND, JANUARY 1. 1880”. A brief internet search for Capt. Little and the Oakland Light Cavalry disclosed a small amount of information. It appears that the Oakland Light Cavalry was in existence as early as 1863, and possibly earlier, as there is a mention of Capt. Little of the San Francisco City Guard and the Oakland Light Cavalry being involved with the organizing of a huge party in San Francisco for the visiting Russian fleet on November 17, 1863. There are a number of other references to the Oakland Light Cavalry which will eventually reveal more detail regarding this unit. Accompanied by Smith & Wesson factory letters identifying these revolvers as having been shipped March 1, 1880 to M. W. Robinson, New York City, NY. The letters state that Robinson was Smith & Wesson’s largest distributor and that these revolvers were in a shipment of 60 units in the same configuration, nickel finish and checkered black hard rubber grips. CONDITION: Revolver #718 is fine to very fine, unfired, retaining about 60% original nickel and about 50% original gold wash. The mechanics are crisp with brilliant shiny bore. The grips are crisp with a small stain on the right side and age lines in both sides. Revolver #5203 retains 85-90% original nickel with the cylinder being mostly a gray patina. The grips have a couple small stains, otherwise are crisp and bright with a tiny age line on the right side. It also appears to be unfired with crisp mechanics and brilliant shiny bore. The areas of missing finish on both these revolvers are lightly rusted with a spot or two of heavier rust particularly on the front and back straps. This set was reportedly stored in a basement in a humid climate for many, many years without care or attention. The case is very fine on the exterior with light nicks, scratches and dings and retains about 95% original varnish. The lid lining is yellowed and lightly soiled with a rub from a revolver cylinder. The velvet lining is worn and stained from the humid storage and all the cartridges have oxidized and frozen in the cartridge block. The cartridge block has broken loose from the case. The oiler and turn screw are fine, unfortunately the ebony rod is broken from the ivory handle. This is an extremely rare set that a little care will restore to a much more presentable condition. A little more research on Capt. Little and the Oakland Light Cavalry in the San Francisco area should disclose substantially more information regarding this officer. 4-57533 JR585 (25,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2006 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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