RARE SMITH & WESSON NEW MODEL #3 REVOLVER WITH KELTON SAFETY.

RARE SMITH & WESSON NEW MODEL #3 REVOLVER WITH KELTON SAFETY. Cal. 44. SN 1651. Blue finish with 6-1/2″ keyhole bbl, half-moon front sight with Smith & Wesson logo embossed hard rubber grips. Top strap is mounted with a tiny dovetailed fixed sight. Right side of the frame is mounted with a checkered lever device that functions as a safety when the revolver is cocked. Until the lever is depressed the revolver cannot be fired. Left side of the frame under the grip has the factory diamond refinish mark with the date “3 24” and there is a star following the serial number. Accompanied by a Smith & Wesson Factory letter, signed by Roy G. Jinks, which states in effect that this revolver and #1652, also being sold in this auction, are “open on the records”. Mr. Jinks states that it is his opinion that both these revolvers were modified for use of the Kelton thumb safety & never shipped from the factory. He also states in the letter that coincidentally they are one number away from the Ira Paine guns but there is no record that Mr. Paine received a Kelton safety gun. Extensive and confirmed research by the noted military firearms historian and author, Charlie Pate, a long-time member of the Smith & Wesson Collectors Assn., has shown this revolver, along with # 1651, to be the ONLY New Model # 3 “Frontier” Series revolvers equipped with the Kelton Safety Latch. All other New Model # 3’s known as having this device are numbered in the 25,000 range of the standard NM # 3 serial numbers. The “Frontier” Models, usually chambered for the .44/40 cartridge, are referred to as the ‘long-strap’ model. They have 1 9/16″ cylinders, as opposed to 1 7/16″ on the standard NM # 3, and are serial numbered in their own separate serial number range. Also accompanied by a reproduced article by Ronald A. Ogan (well known old-time gun dealer from Florida) from the June 1982 Gun Report. Mr. Ogan states that there were approx. twenty revolvers made with the Kelton safety device in several variations including the American, the Schofield & New Model #3. Only a very few are identified in Smith & Wesson records. Page 219 of Smith & Wesson 1857-1945, Neal & Jinks, states approx. the same information but further indicates that there may have been twenty-five government owned Schofield revolvers fitted with the Kelton safety device. Pages 229-231 picture several different revolvers fitted with this device. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except the grips which are numbered to another revolver. Factory refinished, as noted. Overall retains about 99% of this fine factory restored finish with a few light freckles of rust on the right side of the frame. Grips are sound & show moderate to heavy wear. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-57456 JR787 (9,000-12,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005

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
	4088	$12,650.00	RARE SMITH & WESSON NEW MODEL #3 REVOLVER WITH KELTON SAFETY. Cal. 44. SN 1651. Blue finish with 6-1/2″ keyhole bbl, half-moon front sight with Smith & Wesson logo embossed hard rubber grips. Top strap is mounted with a tiny dovetailed fixed sight. Right side of the frame is mounted with a checkered lever device that functions as a safety when the revolver is cocked. Until the lever is depressed the revolver cannot be fired. Left side of the frame under the grip has the factory diamond refinish mark with the date “3 24” and there is a star following the serial number. Accompanied by a Smith & Wesson Factory letter, signed by Roy G. Jinks, which states in effect that this revolver and #1652, also being sold in this auction, are “open on the records”. Mr. Jinks states that it is his opinion that both these revolvers were modified for use of the Kelton thumb safety & never shipped from the factory. He also states in the letter that coincidentally they are one number away from the Ira Paine guns but there is no record that Mr. Paine received a Kelton safety gun. Extensive and confirmed research by the noted military firearms historian and author, Charlie Pate, a long-time member of the Smith & Wesson Collectors Assn., has shown this revolver, along with # 1651, to be the ONLY New Model # 3 “Frontier” Series revolvers equipped with the Kelton Safety Latch. All other New Model # 3’s known as having this device are numbered in the 25,000 range of the standard NM # 3 serial numbers. The “Frontier” Models, usually chambered for the .44/40 cartridge, are referred to as the ‘long-strap’ model. They have 1 9/16″ cylinders, as opposed to 1 7/16″ on the standard NM # 3, and are serial numbered in their own separate serial number range. Also accompanied by a reproduced article by Ronald A. Ogan (well known old-time gun dealer from Florida) from the June 1982 Gun Report. Mr. Ogan states that there were approx. twenty revolvers made with the Kelton safety device in several variations including the American, the Schofield & New Model #3. Only a very few are identified in Smith & Wesson records. Page 219 of Smith & Wesson 1857-1945, Neal & Jinks, states approx. the same information but further indicates that there may have been twenty-five government owned Schofield revolvers fitted with the Kelton safety device. Pages 229-231 picture several different revolvers fitted with this device. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except the grips which are numbered to another revolver. Factory refinished, as noted. Overall retains about 99% of this fine factory restored finish with a few light freckles of rust on the right side of the frame. Grips are sound & show moderate to heavy wear. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-57456 JR787 (9,000-12,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005 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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