SOLVED - Is this revolver genuine?

I

Incendiary

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I found an interesting S&W No 3 revolver. Need help determining if it’s legit or not.

The revolver in question is a S&W No 3 American, second model. The most common barrel length was about 7-8 inches long. The one I found has a 4.5 inch barrel and it appears to be the original length (not cut). The barrel address on long barrel revolvers typically gets interrupted by the shortening process which is also not the case.

The barrel address is suspicious though. It is single line and is marked + SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A + No dates or patent data of any sort.

I have never seen a No. 3 American of any variety not have patent information stamped on it. I also believe the period after the “A” in USA (on the barrel address) is missing.

My default thought is it has a counterfeit barrel to make it appear like a really rare short barrel factory model.

There is absolutely no patent information anywhere on it. The butt of the frame is serialized as is the cylinder and those match. I can't find anything suspicious about the frame. The serial number is within the correct range for a No. 3 American revolver.

Photo posted below by Potashminer


SOLVED, read below for details

SIGP2101 said:
This one has same barrel stamp as yours:
https://www.riverjunction.com/5233
Click to expand...

Old Guns Canada said:
Just sent you a PM. From what I can see, it's not a genuine S&W barrel address. The 2nd model American definitely included patent dates, and the font looks wrong, too. The ampersand is wider than on other Americans, and the writing looks too far spaced. They did come in a 5 1/2 inch barrel, but 4 1/2 would be either custom or chopped. To be more certain, I would need to see a full-on side picture, serial number and close-up of the hammer / latch area. Nickel plating was available as an option.
Click to expand...

Hey guys! Thanks so much for the replies. The folks over at the antique S&W forum worked thru this yesterday with me and we got it figured out. Here are the details.

Chris from Oldguns is correct - the barrel address is wrong for the age of the frame and cylinder (which are Second Model American from 1871-1873ish). The barrel address stamp on this one is from a late production (around year 1900, plus or minus a few) New Model 3, even though the barrel profile is like that of an American. The stamp is also in the correct spot based on the short barrel length. The barrel is crowned properly, and nickeled over the end.

SIG, myself and a couple of the S&W forum guys have all dug up examples of this exact barrel address, down to the font and the lack of period after the "A" in USA. I found a couple S&W lettered examples too. This is a legitimate barrel stamp, for late model New Model 3s.

The conclusion we came to is that the revolver was most likely sent to S&W and professionally shortened, re-stamped and re-nickeled about 20-30 years after it was made.


SOLVED, read above for details
 
Last edited:
Looks like there are a few out there. I will get to work. I’m very new to the idea of forums, thanks for pointing me in that direction.
 
I have seen Spanish copies of US pistols with fake markings in the past, is this one I am not sure but maybe.
 
Incendiary said:
I found an interesting S&W No 3 revolver. Need help determining if it’s legit or not.

The revolver in question is a S&W No 3 American, second model. The most common barrel length was about 7-8 inches long. The one I found has a 4.5 inch barrel and it appears to be the original length (not cut). The barrel address on long barrel revolvers typically gets interrupted by the shortening process which is also not the case.

The barrel address is suspicious though. It is single line and is marked + SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A + No dates or patent data of any sort.

I have never seen a No. 3 American of any variety not have patent information stamped on it. I also believe the period after the “A” in USA (on the barrel address) is missing.

My default thought is it has a counterfeit barrel to make it appear like a really rare short barrel factory model.

There is absolutely no patent information anywhere on it. The butt of the frame is serialized as is the cylinder and those match. I can't find anything suspicious about the frame. The serial number is within the correct range for a No. 3 American revolver.

Photo posted below by Potashminer
Click to expand...

Just sent you a PM. From what I can see, it's not a genuine S&W barrel address. The 2nd model American definitely included patent dates, and the font looks wrong, too. The ampersand is wider than on other Americans, and the writing looks too far spaced. They did come in a 5 1/2 inch barrel, but 4 1/2 would be either custom or chopped. To be more certain, I would need to see a full-on side picture, serial number and close-up of the hammer / latch area. Nickel plating was available as an option.
 
SIGP2101 said:
This one has same barrel stamp as yours:
https://www.riverjunction.com/5233
Click to expand...

Old Guns Canada said:
Just sent you a PM. From what I can see, it's not a genuine S&W barrel address. The 2nd model American definitely included patent dates, and the font looks wrong, too. The ampersand is wider than on other Americans, and the writing looks too far spaced. They did come in a 5 1/2 inch barrel, but 4 1/2 would be either custom or chopped. To be more certain, I would need to see a full-on side picture, serial number and close-up of the hammer / latch area. Nickel plating was available as an option.
Click to expand...

Hey guys! Thanks so much for the replies. The folks over at the antique S&W forum worked thru this yesterday with me and we got it figured out. Read on if you want to know the details.

Chris from Oldguns is correct - the barrel address is wrong for the age of the frame and cylinder (which are from 1871-1873ish). The barrel address stamp on this one is from a late production (around year 1900, plus or minus a few) New Model 3, even though the barrel profile is like that of an American. The stamp is also in the correct spot based on the short barrel length. The barrel is crowned properly, and nickeled over the end.

The conclusion we came to is that the revolver was most likely sent to S&W and professionally shortened, re-stamped and re-nickeled about 20-30 years after it was made.
 
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