Antique Status of S&W DA 44 Russian

[Win 38-55]

The S&W Model #3 DA was sold from 1881 to 1913, although I don't know if the frames were all made prior to 1898 or not. Does anyone know if all DA frames were made prior to 1898? A friend of mine wants to bid on one in 44 Russian, but must be certain that it will qualify as an antique first.

Second: if he won the auction, I would assume he should get a letter from Roy Jinks, then send a copy of that letter to the seller and have the seller include the letter, along with a photocopy of CFC statement on handgun antiques, for Canadian customs, then have the package sent by parcel post to the location here in Canada?

 

[dingus]

CFC considers all SA No # 3 frames in 44 Russian Antique.
That includes the Russian 1st 2nd and 3rd models as well as the NM #3s

I think Jinks proved that all SA #3 frames were made pre 1898

Well thats what ive been told by the CFC Tecs
And they (CFC TECs) could Fax him a letter stateing its Antique alot faster than Roy Jinks

EDIT Opps i see your talking DAs Thats a diffrent can of worms!
I think the Ser # cut off for DA in 44 Russian is 45000
Make sure its the shorter cylinder as its the 44 Russian gun the longer Cylinder is the 44 40
There were a very few DAs made in 44 Russian with the longer cylinder but there rare.

 

[Win 38-55]

Dingus, is there someone I can call at CFC to determine what the serial number cutoff for the DA is?

 

[dingus]

PM sent !

 

[Smokepole]

Did anyone confirm the serial # cutoff date for DA S&W's?

 

[david doyle]

yep

 

[Smokepole]

I found a reference that states ALL the DA 44 were made before 1898.... is that true?
Can anyone direct me to a serial # list that might date my very early S&W DA 44?

 

[Lee Enfield]

I found a reference that states ALL the DA 44 were made before 1898.... is that true?
Can anyone direct me to a serial # list that might date my very early S&W DA 44?

All of the large frame top break frames were manufactured before 1898.

That's both double & single action.


What the CFC considers may be another story.

 

[Win 38-55]

I personally called the tech division of CFC. The fellow on the other end of the line was very helpful and after a minute or so, found the reference for the Model 3 DA (they refer to it as the first model DA). He read it to me.

Bottom line: all First Model DA's qualify as antiques, provided they meet the caliber requirements.

 

[dingus]

OK just so someone dont get into Troble here!

The tec i just talked to said the 44 Russian S&W DA frist models are NOT ALL Pre 1898
They were made till the end of 1899 so the Ser # cut off is about 52600
there were 54668 made and the last 2000 frames were made in 1898 makeing then NOT antique.
Now maby my Tec is wrong but i doubt it.
Sometimes the year thing is confuseing.

Some people could get a gun sized by customs if its the last year 1898 that your frame was manfactured.

 

[Win 38-55]

The tech I talked to was not the one you suggested, Dingus. Sounds like you got a different person. Your info is more detailed (i.e., you were given the exact serial number cut-off, so I tend to believe that your info is the correct info. Just goes to show that sometimes it depends on the tech you talk to. The fellow I talked to read me the stuff right out of his manual, but I'm thinking he was reading from the wrong spot ... maybe the spot that deals with the NM #3, although he called it the First Model DA. Could that be the difference? Is there a 2nd Model DA that spans the cutoff period?

 

[dingus]

The tech I talked to was not the one you suggested, Dingus. Sounds like you got a different person. Your info is more detailed (i.e., you were given the exact serial number cut-off, so I tend to believe that your info is the correct info. Just goes to show that sometimes it depends on the tech you talk to. The fellow I talked to read me the stuff right out of his manual, but I'm thinking he was reading from the wrong spot ... maybe the spot that deals with the NM #3, although he called it the First Model DA. Could that be the difference? Is there a 2nd Model DA that spans the cutoff period?

Im not sure but she was talking about the Frist model S&W DA in 44 Russian and her figgers about amounts made ect fit the Frist model DAs.
Anyway im going with her Numbers as this is still way better than ser # 45000
this gives us another 7600 guns

I wasnt trying to poke any hornets nests LOL but im gona be buying a few later model DAs in the 50000s ser # now and wantesd to be 100% OK + want CFC letters.
Now i know im OK.