Japanese Navy Contract Smith & Wesson New. Mod.3 - .44 Russian

For your interest and information, this is (as mentioned in the header) a S&W New. Mod.#3 in .44 Russian. The pistol is in excellent condition with near pristine bore and chambers which is rare in black powder pistols of this age. Bluing is still evident in protected areas with the rest faded to an even patina. Mechanics (timing, advance, and lock-up) are perfect and no slop to the cylinder when in battery. The serial number of the cylinder doesn't match the rest of the serial numbers of the pistol and the hinge pivot pin is a replacement. While this might be a detriment in a normal antique pistol, this was very common in the Japanese pistols and a normal consequence of their arsenal rebuilds and therefore has no negative impact on value. From my research, "Your revolver was part of an 1879 order for 600 pistols shipped to H.Arens & Co. for the Imperial Japanese Navy. All were blued and had walnut stocks, 7" barrels, sash hooks, and lanyard rings. The serial numbers for this shipment were 9001-9600". This one is numbered #9276. You will note the Naval acceptance stamp just forward of the trigger guard. Enjoy! Comments and observations are more than welcome.

Neat old piece. Where'd you find that, somewhere near Ottawa or Toronto? Nice clean old revolver... Friend of mine lives out near Ft Macleod and has two of those but not Jap Navy, just regular S&W in .44 Russian.

Good day Jim! I trust you and yours are well. I actually won this in a US auction but it was described and priced as a run-of-the-mill New Mod.#3. It was my research that found out the Japanese Navy provenance and then the guys on the S&W forum were, as always, stellar in helping me garner all the information I have as well as setting me on the path to other sources of information. The clincher was finding the naval acceptance stamp. Another gentleman gave me the shipping info. I am still trying to find a fair market value for this. Being one of 600 pistols seems to be something of a rarity and makes it difficult to find exemplars.

Price...those go VERY HIGH here in Canada now. I'll bet you can ask well into $5000CDN for that and someone will run over you to pay it. Maybe even more... There was a guy last Halloween show here in Victoria that had a display case of run of mill old handguns and all were priced up over $3000. They sell regularly.

Yes, all is well here...

I see you already have it posted there...hang on someone will take it.

I have always enjoyed shooting the S&W Russian cartridge and prefer the S&W over the Colt.

Also, I do reload the 44 Russian using Unique and lead bullets. Well over twenty years ago, I did buy the Uberti S&W 44 Russian copy (not really a direct copy but sort of a combination of the Russian patterns).

I really wanted something to shoot and with practice found that I can empty the cylinder and reload it in fourteen seconds ! try that with a single action ColtAttachment 137583

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Originally Posted by RCS

I have always enjoyed shooting the S&W Russian cartridge and prefer the S&W over the Colt.

Also, I do reload the 44 Russian using Unique and lead bullets. Well over twenty years ago, I did buy the Uberti S&W 44 Russian copy (not really a direct copy but sort of a combination of the Russian patterns).

I really wanted something to shoot and with practice found that I can empty the cylinder and reload it in fourteen seconds ! try that with a single action ColtAttachment 137583

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I love the look and feel of these single actions. Your Uberti is beautiful but my arthritic thumbs have difficulty with single action pistols. I had one like yours, an original, and the only way I could shoot with any speed was to use my off hand to cock the hammer. I recently acquired a nickel double action in astounding condition. Other than some rippling in the bore and the fact that it's a period re-nickel, this is the nicest pistol of its type that I've ever handled.

Some like to think that everything old was the 45 Colt cartridge but there were alot of 44 cal cartridges available before the 45 Colt.

The paper thin rim of the 44 Colt (used for conversions to cartridge) and the 45 Colt were always a problem with extraction on advanced revolvers with improved extraction

my photos show the 44 S&W American from 1869, the 44 Russian from 1870, the 44 Colt used in conversions and the 45 Schofield 1874Attachment 137670Attachment 137671