S&W may not have sold a lot of guns to the U. S. government but they sold a LOT of 1st, 2nd, an 3rd model RUSSIANS to RUSSIA, and a bunch of Russians and #3 SAs to japan, Turkey, and others.
I've always thought the Schofield was an uglified 1st Model Russian with a clumsy latching system.
The 2nd and 3rd models were really ugly with that stupid spur on the trigger guard (Which made it awkward to holster) and the roman nose on the rounded back strap.
The Americans and 1st Model Russian are the most elegant looking S&W pistols ever made.