Lot 24

Exhibition Grade Engraved Pair of Smith & Wesson No. 3 Revolvers

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Exhibition Grade Engraved Pair of Smith & Wesson No. 3 Revolvers

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000

Starting Bid: $25,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Stunning Cased Pair of Exhibition Grade New York Engraved Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Third Model Single Action Revolvers with Extraordinary Patriotic American Eagle Relief Carved Ivory Grips and Factory Letters -A) Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Third Model Revolver Stunning Cased Pair of Exhibition Grade New York Engraved Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Third Model Single Action Revolvers with Extraordinary Patriotic American Eagle Relief Carved Ivory Grips and Factory Letters -A) Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Third Model Revolver Manufactured c. 1876, the centennial year of our great nation, this is a truly stunning cased pair of exhibition grade, masterfully New York engraved, deluxe Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Third Model revolvers that are worthy of the finest collections of 19th century American arms. Despite their "Russian" model designation, these revolvers are deeply woven in the fabric of the American frontier. While less prolific than Colt's "Peacemaker", the legacy of these Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russians, like the Remington Model 1875 "Frontier Army", is carved deeply is the turbulent tale of the West. While Colt offered a simple mass-produced design, the Smith & Wessons offered elegance and innovation, traits which many on the frontier desired and came to respect. A pair such as this, displaying some of the very finest 19th century American firearms artistry, would have been considered true treasures by a frontier lawmen, gunslinger, outlaw, or cattleman, and is just as easily pictured at the various trade shows at the time, like the grand Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. Despite their relative mechanical complexity, these No. 3 revolvers proved to be robust and highly effective, firmly planting their banner as one of the iconic sidearms of the western frontier as well as timeless pieces of Americana. The story of the Smith & Wesson Russian truly began in 1870 when the company gave a sample No. 3 revolver to the Russian military attache General Gorloff in an attempt to garner lucrative military contracts from the Imperial Russian government. The revolver was positively received, and, by the spring of 1871, Smith & Wesson had received and begun to fill multiple contracts for the Russian military. One of the changes requested by the Russian military prior to placing these orders was a slightly different cartridge. The cartridge initially offered was the .44-100 S&W (aka .44 S&W American) which featured an externally lubricated bullet that Gorloff rightfully worried was liable to collect debris and could lead to premature bore erosion. Thus, the Russian government requested a new, slightly more powerful cartridge with an internally lubricated bullet, which lead to the development of the famed .44 S&W Russian cartridge. This request and the subsequent contracts led to the nicknaming of two variations of the No. 3 revolver, with one being "American" and one "Russian", despite both being sold on the American market. The .44 S&W Russian cartridge went on to earn itself a notable reputation for accuracy, garnering demand among American consumers, encouraging adoption by various other foreign militaries, as well as being the parent cartridge of the legendary .44 S&W Special and ancestor of the iconic .44 Magnum. In total, approximately 130,000 No. 3 revolvers were produced by Smith & Wesson under contract for the Russian government, split across the First, Second, and Third Models, and all now referred to as Russians. Along with this, Ludwig Lowe produced approximately 100,000 "Russians", and later another 80,000 to 160,000 were produced at Tula Arsenal after the Ludwig Lowe manufacturing equipment had been purchased. Despite their "Russian" name and origins, these No. 3 revolvers produced by Smith & Wesson were an exemplary example of late 19th century American manufacturing and were readily adopted by American consumers, particularly those in the West. For someone braving the perils of the American frontier, the No. 3 Russian offered an extremely accurate and adequately powerful cartridge and quicker reloading with its top-break design and ejector, all in a very rugged package. Smith & Wesson produced 60,638 Third Model "Russian" revolvers, 47,138 of which never hit the commercial market due to fulfillment of various military contracts. Of the 13,500 Russian Third Models that were sold on the commercial market, the majority made their way westward along with pioneering Americans settling the still untamed frontier. These Russians found their way into the holsters and hands of some very notable "Wild West" figures. During the famous 1876 Minnesota raid by the James' Gang, it is said that both Jim and Cole Younger were carrying either Russian Second or Third Models, while another was found on the body of Charlie Pitts. It is also said that the legendary western lawman Pat Garrett, who ended the reign of Billy the Kid, favored the Russian, though it is not believed that he was carrying one the night he killed the outlaw. Some sources claim that Virgil Earp, brother of western icon Wyatt Earp, may have been carrying one during the showdown at the O.K. Corral. Though we cannot say for certain who exactly carried this particular pair of revolvers during the 1870s and 1880s, they certainly show the character of a legend of the American West and show an extravagance befitting a flamboyant and talented gunslinger. Manufactured in 1876, these revolvers represent a tangible piece of both the American West and the fine art of 19th century American firearms. They represent two of only 13,500 total Russian Third Model revolvers produced for the commercial market, with far fewer having survived years of hard service in the harsh environment of the frontier. The included factory letters for both of these revolvers show very similar information, indicating that they shipped to the same location just 10 days apart. The letter for the revolver with serial number 49788 indicates that it was shipped on 9 October 1876 to M.W. Robinson Co. in New York with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, lanyard swivel on the butt, and walnut grips in a shipment of 60 guns, 40 being blued and 20 being nickel plated. The letter for the other revolver, with serial number 50250, lists it as shipped on 19 October 1876, also to M.W. Robinson Co., that it had a 6 1/2 inch barrel, lanyard swivel on the butt, and walnut grips as well as being part of a 60 gun shipment, this time including 20 blued revolvers and 40 nickel plated. From there, these two revolvers appear to have been paired and sent to a talented New York artisan for engraving, quite possibly the legendary Louis D. Nimschke. The revolvers exhibit, essentially identical, extensive, exhibition grade New York style engraving, most prominently featuring masterfully executed scrollwork on beaded backgrounds as well as kidney-shaped motifs on either side of the barrels and cross-hatch and dot motifs at the tops of the back straps, both of which are signature styles seen often in Nimschke's work. The tops of the barrel ribs have the standard one-line address and patent dates in English, ending with "RUSSIAN MODEL". The serial numbers are on the butts along with a boxed "1874" marking, and the respective matching serial number is hand-marked in ink inside the right grip panel of each revolver. They both have matching visible assembly numbers on the right of the grip frame, rear face of the cylinder, bottom of the barrel latch, and rear face of the top strap, that being "32" on 49788 and "886" on 50250. They are both fitted with blade front sights, notch rear sights on the barrel latches, lanyard swivels on the butts, and the distinctive "Russian Model" trigger guard spur. They are also both fitted with an extremely attractive pair of matching ivory grips with the left panel of both being relief carved with a detailed eagle standing on the shield from the Great Seal of the United States. Given the exhibition grade engraving and the theme exhibited on the grips, it is likely that these revolvers were ordered in reverence to the centennial year of the United States. Included with the revolvers is an attractive hardwood case lined with dark green velvet, fitted for both revolvers, with a cartridge block between the two. It is clear that this beautiful pair of revolvers, from their manufacture in the centennial year of the United States, to stunning New York artistry, to their grips bearing our national symbols, to their deep ties to the western frontier, are American through and through.

Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson

Model: 3 Russian

BBL: 6 1/2 inch solid rib

Gauge: 44 S&W Russian

Finish: nickel

Grips: ivory

Serial Number49788

Class: Antique

B) Smith & Wesson No. 3 Russian Third Model Revolver See "A".

Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson

Model: 3 Russian

BBL: 6 1/2 inch solid rib

Gauge: 44 S&W Russian

Finish: nickel

Grips: ivory

Serial Number50250

Class: Antique

  • Condition: A) Exceptionally fine as New York engraved, retaining 95% plus of the nickel finish and 70% of the vibrant original case colors with some scattered specks of light flaking, a cylinder turn line, and extremely crisp engraving throughout. The grips are excellent with a few scattered light handling marks, crisp carving, and a very attractive, lightly aged tone. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine with some tears and wear to the lining and scattered light handling marks on the exterior. B) Exceptionally fine as New York engraved, retaining 95% plus of the nickel finish and 75% of the vibrant original case colors with some scattered specks of light flaking, a cylinder turn line, and extremely crisp engraving. The grips are very fine with a few scattered light dings, crisp carving, and a very attractively aged tone. Mechanically excellent. This is a stunning cased pair of New York engraved Smith & Wesson No. 3 revolvers that exudes the style and flare of a flashy gunslinger in the American West!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000