>Smith & Wesson No 3 American, First Model, standard type in sound condition. Looks >like mostly brown patina. Is there any blue or case color remaining? What are the barrel >rib markings?
mostly brown Patina yes.. it did look to be sound based on my limited knowledge.
I don't recall any blue or case, but the light wasn't good and I wasn't actually allowed (legaly) to handle it. but I would hazzard 98% patina
Barrel Rib Markings
"Smith and Wesson Springfield Mass USA PAT July 10 60 jan. 17. Feb 17 July 11 65 & aug 24 69"
>Looks like there is a little hole in the extractor housing, is that 4-digit number (serial >number) less than 1500? Should be, according to Blue Book.
high 1400's. looking to see if I have a better pic of the extracor housing.
hope this is the right angle
>Caliber .44 S&W aka .44 American aka 44/100 S&W (There were a mighty few .44 Henry >rimfires made.)
>Blue Book value in the low to middle thousands of dollars, depending on what a collector >would call the condition. Nice.
I think you made someones day! they have it as a heirloom, one of them "mysterious relitives", seems someone jumped ship off a Brit Merchie in Oregon in the late 1800's
I suggest showing it over at
www.smith-wessonforum.com and see what the experts say.
will do, thanks for the info..
NB