#3 Smith and Wesson in .44American

[Marshal Deadwood]

This guy that deals in top shelf antique firearms that shoots with us, had a #3 Smith in .44American. It is nickle platled and very good nickle to be made in 1870. Full length barrel.

I'm not the worlds greatest antique gun expert,,but I tell ya,,,it felt kewl to hold a Smith from 'back in the day'...

None of us in the posse can afford guns like this,,,so we appreciate the older gent bringin'em out and letting us fondle these fine guns.

Last shoot,,,he had a 1st gen , nickle , 7 1/2 SAA Colt that had been stocked in real ivory. It was a peach too.

MD

[Galloway]

I know what you mean, I love my replicas but you cant help but wonder an old guns history when you hold it in your hands. What I would give just to hear about it.

[Cole Younger]

I've got an original Colt Frontier Six Shooter made in 1882, IIRC.  I've also got a Smith and Wesson 2nd Model American in the Russian calibre.  I'll see if I can find some pics or take some.  The Smith was made in 1874, I think.  The Colt is a Kansas gun and the Smith is out of Texas. 

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[Montana Slim]

I know the feeling......I've had a few chances for the same model & calibre (.44 American) at relatively affordable cost, tight guns at that.... but I'm holding out for the 2nd model in 44 Russian with full length barrel. I've seen a couple that were cut down to belly guns 

Regards,
Slim

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Which reminds me of a story ...

Back when I was young and dumb, a friend's father brought out an old SAA Colt that had been nickel plated. I was very much a stripling and wrapped the father's quick draw rig twice around my belt and proceeded to quick draw and pretend to fan the trigger as only a testosterone soaked preteen would do.

After I holstered the gun, the father started to tell the rest of the story. He was RIF'd in 1947 and the only job he could get was with Sherriff Jim Clark on the Selma Police Department (yes, that Jim Clark and that Selma) as a railroad detective. The problem was that some if not many of the hobos riding the rails did not make it easy to roust them from the railroad cars.

So he was walking with his wife and saw this nickel plated Colt in a pawnshop window. After asking how much everything was in the store, he walked out with the pistol for less than $50.

When he got home, the .45 Colt would not fit into the weapon. So he took it to a gunsmith, only to find that he had bought one of a run of 250 guns made to order by the Texas Rangers and chambered for Henry (44-40?) ammo so that they only needed to carry one type of ammo.

When he told me that he had been offered $17,500 (in 1964 dollars) by a musem, my knees turned to rubber, thinking of the consequences that might have been if I had dropped it on its hammer and broken it.....

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Why avoid a .44 American.  COTW,3d says ammo can be made from .41 Magnum brass.  Might be more costly, but still interesting and useful.

[Dr. Bob]

I have a S & W DA 44 and it is chambered for 44 Russian.  I was lucky to find one in good shape and it is a cartridge that is easy to find.  Good luck!