It appears that you have a New Model #3 Target. A serial number and a photo of the cylinder from the hammer end might narrow down the caliber. This revolver is an antique as all the frames were made prior to 1899 even though S&W catalogued them until 1913.

 

 

 

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass, Slim! You need to tell us the caliber or post a picture where we can see down into the cylinder chambers. Also, it appears your gun has been refinished. Is there a star stamped near the serial number? Please remove the grips and post a picture of the left side of the grip frame.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Well, geese, I missed the serial number in your first post. My apologies but the number could be for different calibers. Most helpful would be a photo down the chambers as Wiregrassguy said.

 

Sweet!

 

Very nice. Welcome from NW Pa.

 

Hello y’all, sorry I haven’t been posting anything about my Smith & Wesson. It’s a 38 s&w

 

 

 

You have a New Model #3 in .38 S&W and with target sights. It is not a NM#3 Target as they are chambered for special target ammo in .32-44 and .38-44. It is a rare version of the NM#3 and especially so with the target sights. Unfortunately, it has been refinished outside the factory at some point in its life. I recommend that you get an Historian's Letter of Authenticity. That will validate the shipping date, to whom it shipped and how it was configured when shipped.

 

I agree, the gentleman who had it before me got the cylinder ejector replaced and instead of installing a black one like it should’ve been they put a silver one instead plus when I got this revolver the cylinder wasn’t locking so I ordered a spring that goes between the frame and the trigger guard and now it is working like it should.

 

I'm convinced that this revolver is a New Model #3 Target chambered in .38-44. A .38 S&W will chamber, fire and eject with no harm but the .38 S&W is not the original ammo intended for this NM #3. Warning: Modern 38-44 is loaded too hot for the gun and should not be used.

To further back up my claim, the serial number (3300) is within the serial range (1-4333) and the hammer is not rebounding which is particular to the Target Models (1st photo in this thread). Only 1413 were made in this caliber.

 

Mike is a lot more knowledgeable about these guns than me. I defer to his analysis.

 

The 38-44 ammo was discontinued in 1966

 

Sorry, not the 44 mag, 357 mag

 

To wiregrassguy's defense, it is possible that this revolver could be a standard production, special order, however, I believe it is not likely. It is my understanding that the old .38-44 cartridge was hot-rodded by Elmer Kieth and that led to the .357 Mag.

 

My understanding is the Keith cartridge was based on the .38 Special, not the black powder .38-44 target cartridge. Here is what the "Bible" has to say about it:

The 38-44 Target round for the New Model Number 3 Target was a low-powered blackpowder round in a long brass case with the bullet seated entirely inside the brass case. The 38-44 Heavy Duty round, introduced in 1930 for the 38-44 Heavy Duty Hand Ejector model, was a souped-up 38 Special round and the predecessor of the 357 Magnum. Its case was of a slightly smaller diameter than the old New Model Number 3 and the 38-44 Target round. Hence the following:

WARNING: The modern 38-44 Heavy Duty round was not designed for this gun and would be extremely hazardous to shoot in it.

Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 5th Edition (p. 422). Gun Digest Media. Kindle Edition.

This being said, I was not aware the .38 S&W cartridge would chamber in the NM#3 .38-44 Target. I think an Historian's letter is needed to clear things up as to whether this gun is a special order or a NM#3 Target.

 

There are two different 38-44 cartridges and they are easily confused.

The earlier one is a blackpowder target load, and that is all I know about it. The later 38-44 Heavy Duty was introduced in the early 1930s and was a purpose built cartridge to increase the velocity of the 38 S&W Special cartridge. It is the same case as the 38 S&W Special but with a higher pressure load suitable for the Heavy Duty N frame revolver. Phil Sharpe was a big fan of the cartridge and the 38-44 Outdoorsman revolver (Heavy Duty with adjustable sights). He experimented with them and his research is what lead to the introduction of the 357 S&W Magnum cartridge.

Same name, 38-44, two very different cartridges.

Kevin

 

Thank you y’all for all the knowledge sharing on here, I appreciate y’all for the information sharing about this here smith & wesson. All I can say is that it shoots s&w 38 and it is accurate as a hornets sting. I have another one that I’ll be posting later on.

 

Hey y’all, I’m back with yet another s&w and I have no idea what caliber this guy is

 

 

44 Russian don’t fit in the cylinder, 38 s&w is too small and goes right through it.