Near relic Smith and Wesson Russian Model(?)

[mrclark303]

Here's mine, sold about 8 years ago, not the best of condition, some bright spark 'cleaned' it and removed much of the original nickel in the process, but quite rare chambered in .44 American.

Super piece, started my obsession with procuring an original US issue Schofield, not ever likely to happen unfortunately, too many hoops to jump here and they cost a lot of money!

[RCS]

Here are photos showing the early cartridges:


left 44 S&W American, 44 S&W Russian, 44 Colt (conversion) and 45 S&W GovtAttachment 102175Attachment 102174

[painter777]

If I’m following the insinuation, I’d have course correct ya.

I grew up in Murray, KY. Just a bit across the border from Paris, TN.
Hank Jr. does indeed live in Paris. He was somewhat frequently spotted around Paris and Murray.

Rcathey,
It was mean't as a tongue in cheek way to misrepresent provenance.
We share family blood with the Williams. My Father knew Hank Sr back in his days while being a roadie for his long time friend Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass boys.
As kids we had many trips to the Ole Ryman.
Early 70's Hank Jr hung out with a friend in his younger wilder days while staying in Michigan. At the home of a ex FBI agent in my boyhood town. A wild one..... but funny as hell back in the day. He spent some time dabbling in the Motown sound.This was after he split away from his Mother.

Bo is about 10 years older than me. Mid-late 60's I know he went to High School in Nashville.
I can remember him as a young guy sitting in playing banjo alongside Flatt and Scruggs.
I was in High school when he fell off the Mtn out west..... I believe it was Montana or Idaho. We visited him afterward before he could talk again.
So yes I know the man. He'll never get the credit he deserves for the help he has given others........... 'Out of the limelight'.

To Anzac,
Sorry I got this Off Topic

[painter777]

So did some NOT have the extra finger loop?
I searched a bit and also noticed some look to have different style/size front sights.

Any easy answers out there?

Thx

[RCS]

Charlie, The first model Russian looked just like the S&W American, same grip like the later Schofield. The 2nd and 3rd Model Russians both
had the saw-handle grip and trigger guard spur. You could carry six rounds in the S&W and a good man could empty and reload it in thirty to
forty seconds and if you had a Colt you would be punching out the forth or fifth empty cartridge during this time.

[Anzac15]

I took the grips off tonight to see if anything was carved on the back of them. I found two pieces of material that are (don't know if you can see it that well) definitely some sort of woven cloth. Under a magnifying glass they have a blue green hue. Also, you can see the threaded area inside the grip frame for a lanyard loop, but not on the outside. Sure would love to know what those markings mean.
This revolver gets more intriguing the more you examine it. Some areas of it look pretty well done, whereas some others look as though they were made with a hammer on a rock. I find it really funny that the only marking or number of any kind found so far is the number stamped on the bottom of the break top latch.
As I understand so far..the only 'known' makers of this model are:
S&W
Tula
Ludwig Loewe
Spain
Belgium
I found reference to possible Mexican knockoffs, and there supposedly was a contract for the Ottoman Empire (the Russians loved that, I'm sure)..I would guess its possible there were copies made there as well.

[Anzac15]

Bit of an update. Found a marking. Looks like a crown, or something like a flame. Found it under some grime that I wiped off. Will try to get some clearer pics.

[Sunray]

Spanish or an Italian copy, given there are no stamps. Very much a WHAG though. It's in pretty decent condition though.

[RCS]

Dallas Stoudermire was the 6th Town Marshal of El Paso in eight months, he was known as a gunfighter. On April 14, 1881 the El Paso Constable Gus Krempkau went to a saloon to retrieve his pistol and rifle. A confrontation erupted between a known cattle rustler John Hale and the former marshal Campbell. Hale shot and killed the constable, Stoudenmire who was across the came running and firing his S&W revolvers, one of his shots killed a bystander and then Stoudenmire shot Hale and Campbell who both died.

This became known as the four dead in five seconds gunfight and even made the newsAttachment 102259papers in New York. Stoudermire carried two S&W American revolvers in 44 cal and they were nickel plated. One of his original S&W revolvers survived and is pictured