Image Lot Price Description

4089
$0.00

RARE SMITH & WESSON NEW MODEL #3 REVOLVER WITH KELTON SAFETY. Cal. 44. SN 1652. Nickel 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 lever which is either an unusual variation of the Kelton patented thumb safety or an alteration of an orig thumb safety. It appears to be orig as it has nickel plating in the area where the thumb rest would ordinarily be found. Accompanied by a copy of a Smith & Wesson Factory letter, signed by Roy G. Jinks, which states in effect that this revolver and #1651, 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: Fine to very fine, all matching including the grips. Overall retains 40-50% orig nickel, primarily on the left side & the grip frame, with the balance a bright metal color. There is some fine pitting around the muzzle & on the right side of the bbl with other light pitting on the cylinder & top strap. Mechanics are fine, strong dark bore. Grips are crisp & clean showing light wear. 4-57455 JR788 (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.