212

Rare Factory Engraved Smith & Wesson No. 3 Second Model American Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:5,500.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Rare Factory Engraved Smith & Wesson No. 3 Second Model American Revolver
CURRENT BID
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
ENTER YOUR MAXIMUM ABSENTEE BID[?]
You must bid at least
5,500.00USD
USD
5,500.00 x 1 unit = 5,500.00USDApplicable fees & taxes are added at checkout.
[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2024 Nov 23 @ 09:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
serial #28373, 44 S&W American, 8'' relined barrel with a mostly bright very fine bore showing a few small areas of pinprick pitting and crisp rifling. This revolver shows fine factory engraving characteristic of Gustave Young featuring nice flowing foliate scrollwork with fine line detailing, punch-dot shading and border lines. The scrollwork along the sides of the barrel and behind the hammer show Young's distinctive cinches in the centers of the scroll and the engraving remains very attractive and mostly crisp throughout. The rear areas of the barrel show remnants of original bright blue while the majority shows what appears to be an older reapplied smooth plum-brown finish. The cylinder has mostly flaked to a medium gray-brown patina while the frame retains perhaps 60% original bright blue thinning and flaking to a pleasant medium gray-brown patina along with some mild oxidation staining here and there. The single line barrel address with patent dates remains strong while the hammer and triggerguard are a pleasant smoky case-hardened patina showing wisps of good colors and the trigger shows dark gray oil-quenched case-hardening. The inside ''water table'' of the frame shows two small old plug repairs that are a bit curious but unobtrusive. The revolver wears a set of nice original smooth ivory grips that rate very fine exhibiting some noticeable shrinkage from the years along with some honest crackling on the bases, nice striations and a fine patina. The insides of the grip panels are unmarked and the numbered parts are matching by assembly number. The latch spring is broken or missing and barrel-to-frame fit exhibits a little minor play. The action otherwise seems to function well mechanically with very good timing and lock-up. Factory records will indicate that this revolver was shipped on February 18, 1874 to the Pratt & Whitney Company of Hartford. The record indicates a blued revolver, 8'' inch barrel, factory-engraved and with ivory grips. The revolver was invoiced at $39.00 along with $9 for accessories and $7.50 for 500 cartridges; the accessory charge may have been for the grips and/or a now-lost case. An interesting and very attractive revolver shipped to the famous Pratt & Whitney firm, engraved Second Model Americans also being quite rare in their own right. (13E10826-323) {ANTIQUE} [Dr. W. Lloyd Hudson, Jr. Collection] (8,000/12,000)