Readers today might think: This is really reaching for a reason to reject a gun. I had several people fire this revolver, including a new shooter at The Range at Austin, a 9-year-old girl who had never shot a gun in her life. The grips, barrel and cylinder do not match. 7 INCH BARREL In fact, US government arsenals supplied .45 Schofield cartridges for both the Schofield revolver and . The most obvious of these consisted of changing the latch from barrel mounted to frame mounted. Until i saw the price. Whats great about the internet, Google Books, and Amazon is that for not too much money, you can download so many history books and fast. Save my name and email to use for future comments. Id plunk my money down for one of those in a heartbeat. Now if I could just figure out how to keep my hands out of the shots on shiny guns. Out there. It is believed that these guns were shipped to San Francisco at the time of the Sandlot Riots, and eventually wound up with the California militia. The guns were marked by the company on the right side of the under barrel ejector housing by stamping over the Schofield patent. I shot 60 total rounds for accuracy with this pistol. In 1875 The military ordered 3,000 of the new Schofields in what would be a relatively short-lived contract and put them in the hands of the 4th, 9th, and 10th cavalry. My hands were on bags, my arms were on bags, and my chest was leaning in and against the bench. I, another gunsmith, have figured out only about half of the tools he made what they were for, etc. Reproduction gun and profit!. READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS CAREFULLY. Theres a reason why S&W and Ruger are the companies still shipping wheelguns. He claims to have the Smith and Wesson Schofield Jesse James had on him the day he was shot in the back of the head and killed. Theyre just consistently to the left. However, many had been retired earlier. The Russian contract proved to be disastrous for Smith & Wesson however. Both the revolver and the cartridge were named after a major who thought that the model 3 would make for quicker reloads for calvarymen on the move. The original Model 3 revolver had been adopted as the standard sidearm of the U.S. Army . 340 FOR 1875 THE SIGHTED BARREL MOUNTED WITH INDIAN HEAD PENNY FORE-SIGHT, MARKED WITH SMITH & WESSON ADDRESS ON LUG, COLOUR HARDENED HAMMER AND TRIGGER GUARD, WALNUT GRIPS WITH FAINT CARTOUCHE, MARKED US ON BUTT. It is similar to the .45 Colt round though shorter and with a slightly larger rim, and will generally work in revolvers chambered for that cartridge; the converse is not true, since the .45 Colt case is longer. A RARE US .45 SMITH & WESSON SCHOFIELD FIRST MODEL REVOLVER, SERIAL NO. The first slightly cocked position is how it was designed to be carried. They lady was okay looking too. The Uberti replicas of the Smith & Wesson No. Overall * * * * . (Which you dont need to do on these modern guns.) He had it on consignment. Mag. The bodies of the dead men were mutilated eyeballs gouged out and put on the ground or on rocks, faces smashed in, genitals stuffed in mouths, etc. W.F. This was a vastly superior system to reloading a cap and ball revolver and this garnered much interest both from the US military and overseas military forces most notably Russia. Very sweet, but complicated to machine. Former gun slinger, current gun writer. Then I went out an purchased the estate of a deceased gunsmith. This is how we come to have the idea of the .45 Long Colt There actually isnt such a thing, the term was coined simply to differentiate between the .45 Colt and the shorter .45 Schofield. That bugle, and the story behind it are amazing. When Bob Ford shot James in the back, he did so with a Schofield. He said when he got home looking under a . Smith & Wesson .44 DA Grips. Further minor modifications were made, and an additional 5,000 in the Second Model configuration were delivered in 1877. Western Gun Leather Holster Uberti Taylor Cimarron Smith & Wesson Schofield 5 1/2 inch barrel BigTexasLeatherWorks (3,389) $24.00 More colors Uberti Schofield 7"Western Single Action Leather Holster SkilletCreek (251) $82.00 Custom Cowboy Holster - Schofield Revolver 5 inch or 7 inch franklinwendy (1,027) $190.79 FREE shipping [except the price!].. He is a contributing editor for The American Rifleman and serves on the Board of Directors of the Smith & Wesson Collectors Association. The army were not impressed and standardized on the 1873 Colt single action in .45 Colt. Id like to get one of these, perhaps a plane jane version can be had for much less. I have tools used to carve out barrel channels in wood. A few guns were made for the civilian market, but the vast majority of Schofields were military guns. Between the two, there is plenty of space to see the target, but by aligning the base of the V rear with the front sight, a great deal of precision is possible. The rear sight is integral to the cylinder release latch. In my defense, the hammer of the Schofield is a little farther forward than the Peacemakers, and the hammer throw is also a little longer, so the Model P is always going to be a little faster. It is an exceptional revolver. The late great Donald Lange. As fancy as this gun looks, many originals were just the same. SMITH & WESSON BIG FRAME SINGLE ACTION SPRINGS: MAINSPRING (fits old old model Russian-1st model American-2nd model American for Schofield shorten base approx. It feels much lighter and theres no way I would change a thing about it. I used a bunch of blue screws today. Between 2000 and 2003 Smith & Wesson made a limited run of Schofield revolvers, but they had some modern improvements, including a transfer . Founded in the 1800s, the company specialized in revolvers and guns such as the No.3 and Schofield became synonymous with the Old West. Mine have the wooden grips I may have to consider a grip change I love the way they look. Three different sizes of numerals have been reported in the Wells Fargo serial number markings. A short time later, a revolutionary new rifle, the Springfield Trapdoor, became the small detail that prevented a complete massacre of another small force at the Wagon Box Fight. The Smith & Wesson Schofield is a version of the Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolver adopted for use by the United States Army and incorporating improvements made by Army Major George W. Schofield. Since 1852 Smith & Wesson has empowered Americans with the freedom, equality, and security promised by the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Give a Joe something he can break and he will. I had several shooters try the gun, and the results were the same for all of them. Smith & Wesson 29896 Key for Revolver Internal Lock. Im a bit surprised for historical accuracy that you didnt feed it a few cylinders of black powder loads. Other than the Unique making the nickel finish filthy, I never had any issues with reliability in any way. Traded for a mint colt 4 in diamond back. I followed the whole M&H replica controversy especially the part where people had put down deposits (which they never got back) and no revolvers were produced. Otherwise, great review. Extremely accurate, lots of fun to shoot. 3 top-break revolver was introduced by them in 1870. Weight: 3.5=2.85 lbs, 5=2.90 lbs, 7=2.97 lbs In the early 1880s the Benet type (internal) cartridge primer was retired and the modern Boxer type (external) primer was adopted for all future military production of revolver ammunition. He was granted patents for these modifications on June 20th, 1871 and April 22, 1873, as all S&W Model 3 Schofields after that would be marked until the end of their production. The cartridge was designated the .45 Schofield. If you require a personal response, please use ourContact page. This is going to sound a little silly, but right now I have at least 120 guns, and not a single one of them in .357Magnum. The M1887 was made at Frankford Arsenal, and was issued only to the military. ah, well. I shot this gun in the Texas Hill Country Spring heat, ranging from 90 to 102 degrees. Parts are available to the public for self installation, but they can also be installed by our highly trained gunsmiths. The gun is ready to fire again. The Russian model was criticized for the awkwardness of its grip, hammer, and trigger-guard spur. An article by Charles Pate in Man at Arms magazine discusses this variation. I use a an electric lead pot to heat the salts, and a blueing thermometer to get the temperature correct. Which, for those of us who are revolver fans, is how we like to see cylinders turn: into the window or clockwise. Because of the original design by Smith and Wesson, the Schofield is somewhat heavier on the end than say a sing-action-army style revolver. New York received 2,000 in 1877; Michigan 536 in 1878 and 1879; Indiana 300 in 1878 and 1879; Territory of Washington 180 in 1882 and 1891; California at least 100 and possibly 300 in 1880; Kansas 100 in 1879; West Virginia 79 in 1878; with lesser quantities going to Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, and Tennessee. Schofield recognized the value in the Model 3s break-top, fast ejection design for a cavalryman riding on horseback. Smith & Wesson 32 & 38 Target Grips. Learn how your comment data is processed. The above revolver models help show the progression of Smith & Wesson's history. He just had a few changes to make. I have all manner of widgets for sporterizing a Mauser 98 action, more workholding for a Rem700 style action, tools to hold a bolt in a lathe, and dozens of hand-ground high speed steel cutting tools for the lathe to do a specific job. I know right? His heirs had no idea what most of the tooling in the wooden toolboxes was. They also offer models in .44-40 and .45 Colt. The Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, Smith & Wesson Handguns and one of my absolute favorites, Age of the Gunfighter. 6: 2,020: Model 629-6 6" 44 magnum, Model 647 no dash 17 HMR(reduced) posted by outdoorsdad 02-22-2023. I think I was in love. . Bat Masterson, writing about what made the Old Western gunmen so dangerouos, ranked quickness with a gun third, behind deliberation/coolness under pressure (#1) and accuracy (#2). $23.98. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY. 3s marked Schofields patents went to the US Army for use by the cavalry. Smith & Wesson 38 Military & Police Model of 1905 38 Special Revolver - Collectible *4th Change* Our price: $399.99. On my Schofield 5 in 38. The Smith & Wesson Schofield (usually pronounced SKO-field rather than SHOW-field) revolver is probably the best known by the general public of any of the Model Threes, and the one most associated with the Old West in the collective American imagination. There is a transfer bar for safety, which is a good idea. A Schofield revolver believed to have been used at the Battle of the Little Big Horn is owned by the Smithsonian Institution, although it has never been clear which side its owner was fighting on. It would be hard to do such a storied horseman's sidearm justice, but in every way, this Italian-made Uberti replica does just that. That whole sequence is fascinating to watch, and I did it over and over, even with empty cases, just to watch them fly out of the chamber again. 9mm Pistol. This revolver from Taylors & Company is chambered in .38 Special, a cartridge that wasnt available in the Model 3sfrom the factory. The only thing more I could ask for are super high-res photos that would fill a 15 laptop screen. I kid you not. Beyond that, it appears to be completely accurate, down to every marking and detail. 3 and their variations, the Frontier and Target models. This article is from the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 4th Edition. I only shoot smokeless cartridges with this gun. Recently donated by NRA Board member Tom Selleck, this Schofield was used in the movie "Crossfire Trail" and today can be seen in the galleries of the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va. Kingston, NY 12401 Phone: 866.686.7424 Fax: 877.486.7278 Its just fun. It is the double action version of the Model 3. posted by Toyman 02-06-2023. The result was catastrophic, almost bankrupting Smith & Wesson. Significant in Major Schofields modifications was the changing of the top break latch to a frame mounted stirrup type latch so it could be operated by the thumb, thus making it easier to manipulate whilst on horseback. It is an exceptional revolver. That are fun to shoot mine was. Today 01:58 AM by outdoorsdad. Although they never became as popular as the Peacemaker, the original and New Model 3 Schofield patented revolvers became a well-known and much desired sidearm of the late 19th century. Serial no. It was during its early trials and use by the US Army that then Major George Schofield took an interest in the sidearm. Our price: $799.99. It's a Uberti version of the Schofield, in 45 Colt. Check to compare Smith & Wesson 640 357 Mag Revolver 2.12" Barrel. The imitation mother of pearls grips on this fancier model are well done and perfectly usable. But Dan and RF gave me some good pointers, and Ive read a lot of online tutorials that have helped. We use a lot of titanium screws where I work. so get this amazing Red Puffer Vest which is a favorite of all girls and it is the most-rated and most selling outfit in our store, shop now because the stock is limited. Taylors & Company sells several versions of the S&W Model 3, including a few Schofields. You should have seen it out of the box! The Smith & Wesson Model 3 is a single-action, cartridge-firing, top-break revolver produced by Smith & Wesson (S&W) from around 1870 to 1915, and was recently again offered as a reproduction by Smith & Wesson and Uberti.. Overall Length: 3.5=9.25, 5=10.75, 7=12.75 Its actually heavier than that, measuring at 3lbs 10oz. In case. https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools-supplies/metal-prep-coloring/metal-bluing/bluing-salts/nitreblue-bluing-salts-prod1105.aspx. Sherriff Pat Garret, the man who killed Billy the Kid was known to carry and use the Schofield patented pistol, as was Texas outlaw John Wesley Hardin and even President Theodore Roosevelt. That top break action just seems to make more sense to me. An exceptional shooter. Jim Supica runs Old Town Station Ltd. Auction & Antique Arms and has authored numerous articles on gun collecting. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. And/or use black reflectors (matte poster board or foamcore) to help hide them. Thanks, I really struggle with the photos. Florida, Maine, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania received fewer than seven guns each. SMITH & WESSON SCHOFIELD REVOLVER ATTRIBUTED TO JESSE JAMES. Schofield Second Model 5" .45 Schofield At this time, we do not sell or ship firearms to NY, NJ, CA, or HI. She had no issues at all, other than it was a little heavy for her. I could write more than I have time for about Lt. Unfortunately, whenever a relatively simple marking adds interest and value to a gun, there is a temptation to forgery. Jeremy is rewarding my grumbling with sending prettier stuff my way. Wrong. Even so, with the .44-40 or hot .45LC loads suitable for close range hunting, recoil would be very manageable, even by the inexperienced shooter. The Russian government decided to defer paying for revolvers supplied, and then they cancelled their order leaving Smith & Wesson with a lot of revolvers manufactured and no sale. Beyond that, its a beautiful, functional, surprisingly accurate revolver. Agreed. Also, the seven-inch barrel of the Schofield is a whole lot of steel to clear and point before it gets up there in the first place. Major Schofield suggested a number of improvements which were incorporated into the revolver in 1875. Smith & Wesson Automatic Grips. It was a Smith & Wesson Model 3 that was modified, due to a suggestion by Major George Schofield, to make it easier for a cavalryman to reload while riding. Its a great caliber, but the .38SPL does so much of what I want it to do, that I havent really felt the need. I shouldnt have been particularly surprised, as this is the second Uberti pistol Ive reviewed, and Ive bought two others. It was a complete slaughter of Fettermans force of 81 (79 Army and two civilians) at the hands of about 1,000 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Estimated Value $9.95 New. 3 model of 1875 incorporated Major Schofield's modifications, most notably the frame mounted stirrup type barrel latch that allowed the revolver to be opened by the thumb. Check to compare Smith & Wesson 629 44 Mag Revolver 4" Barrel. US Firearms "Custer Battlefield" single action .45. Top breaks really do it for me but the only one Ive got is a Webley. The latch on the Schofield can be operated with one hand while on horseback and empty cases automatically ejected. posted by sshakrr 01-22-2023. My better times were around 1.8 seconds. 1 comment. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online. Style and Appearance * * * * * As these guns hit the surplus market, they began to be picked up by everyday civilians, law enforcement, and companies alike. Its probable that some of the guns sold to state militias had been previously issued to regular army units. This interesting and very functional pistol was designed by Major George Schofield. The greater ease and speed of reloading was noted, but was not given much credence as a tactical advantage. $22.79. But they didnt hurt much either, as the tiny amount of recoil exhibited from the three-pound revolver just didnt move the gun enough to matter. Im sure there are Schofields. In writing this article I relied heavily on three sources. Just for visual effect, I moved to shooting steel. Getting back to guns: In those days, battles often got up close and very real when the ammo ran out. The first S&W revolvers to be chambered in 38-40 Winchester (similar to the modern-day .40S&W) came out in 1876, but Smith & Wesson didnt start chambering pistols in .38SPL until 1898. This noticeable feeling faded . Jon made reference to the Armys preference for the SAA based on the superior ability to bludgeon someone with the SAA and still have a useable firearm after doing so. When the Army began to adopt modern side-loading double-action revolvers, the M1887 round gave occasional ejection trouble, and was replaced in Army use by the M1909 .45 Colt cartridge. In cowboy action shooting, that time would be good enough to keep me from getting laughed off the range, mostly due to the kind nature of the folks that attend those events. As an example of a battle where anything in hand became a weapon, let me take you to a Battle in Red Clouds War, the Fetterman Massacre, which occurred in north central Wyoming (about halfway between Buffalo and Sheridan, just west of I-90 you can ask for it in Google Maps) which happened on 21 December 1866. It is similar to the .45 Colt round though shorter and with a slightly larger rim, and will generally work in revolvers chambered for that cartridge. MSRP: $1,522.00. Did I mention the .22Mag High-Standard top-break derringer I just recently found in my safe? Smith & Wesson Model No. I need a no3 in my life. I look forward to all your submissions. The original caliber used by the cavalry was the now practically extinct .45S&W, a black powder cartridge closely duplicating a light-loaded .45ACP. Id like to add some historical perspective to one aspect of flop-top revolvers like the #3 vs. the Colt SAA. Really, the old west guns are by far the most fun to review. 3 Schofield, a Colt 1873/1973 Peacemaker Commemorative, and a. These guns would become known to collectors as 1st Model Schofield revolvers. 2 Count Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 Extra Long 1.25 XL Magazine Mounted Garrison Grip Extension. There are a The only actual order I can find with anything from the Army Ordinance Board is for 3,000, which is in the wrong caliber, and the contract was cancelled just 2 years later. DG, I got really tired of reviewing the same functional, but unattractive guns. Is it behind me or as a backdrop? Many saw service in the Indian Wars, though they were reported in use as late as the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection. The 4th was involved in the Geronimo campaign. Reliability * * * * * Having a revolver you could flip around and use like a war hammer wasnt a bad idea. It has the same top break and extractor system. The Smith & Wesson Model 3 was a single-action, cartridge-firing, top-break revolver produced by Smith & Wesson from circa 1870 to 1915, and was recently again offered as a reproduction by. I shot it an hour later. The Schofield versionswere favored by many famous professional gunslingers on both sides of the law. This is a reproduction of the famous Schofield Model Three top-break as used by Wells Fargo & Co. I agree with you about the handling and shooting qualities of the top-break revolvers they are just fun! Although not entirely authentic, the .38SPL is a phenomenal shooter in this gun. Gun Review: Taylors & Company 1875 Smith & Wesson Model 3 Schofield FBI: FixNICS, Red Flag Laws Will Have Almost No Effect on Number of Mass Shootings, Supreme Court Sales Tax Ruling Could Mean Trouble for Gun Owners, Gun Review: Smith & Wesson Model 317 Kit Gun .22LR Revolver, Armed Self-Defense Chronicles: When a Detroit Doctor Defended Himself and His Family Against a Racist Mob, Gun Review: Taurus GX4XL T.O.R.O. I have a brace of nickel 5 Taylors Schofields in .38 Special and I love them. As I had already put more than 100 rounds through the Schofield during a series of drills, I wasnt surprised that it was a gun capable of considerable precision. In Army tests of this era, S&W Americans and Russians passed the firing and functioning criteria, but were criticized for their complexity and number of parts. Such is its popularity that some gun enthusiasts who are not familiar with the older S&Ws will tend to call any large frame S&W top-break a Schofield. It has received some exposure in movie and TV westerns, most notably and recently in Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, but also in earlier efforts such as Nevada Smith, Trackdown, and Alias Smith & Jones.. 1930 Lincoln Model L Convertible Roadster, Aston Martin DB5 James Bond 007 Movie Car. His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. I dont want to touch off the caliber wars. I could have probably gotten one in a 38 for $350 but I stopped bidding,,, Lots of folks were after the modern handguns,,, I had to have the star worked on for $60 and it works great,,, Gunsmith is wanting me to put a price on it for him but, Im hanging on to it for now,, Two months later another auction came with another 350 firearms give or take a few,,, Might try to convince my wife its a necessity for family defense, Its the only weapon to use on those wayward robots from Westworld. Poof, perfect heat blueing. He told me to look for a History Channel special this summer called "Found". Unsurprisingly, my hands were a little sweaty during a few of the courses of fire, and the smooth grips didnt help. Long before the Gucci GLOCK, shooters from all walks of life were fancying up their guns, I can find quite a few photos of old revolvers with mother of pearl grips, including ones used in the saddle by working lawmen. It turns clockwise in the action. Theodore Rooseveldts Smith & Wesson is preserved at the NRA National Firearms Museum. Originally made in 1870, the top-break Model 3 has the distinction of being the first cartridge revolver to become standard issue in the US Army. Accurate with a fast reload and good looks. One interested US military man was Major George W. Schofield who asked for a revolver to evaluate it for cavalry use. Thanks for doing reviews of pretty guns. Everyone admitted that the S&W wastwice as fastto reload as the Colt, and it seemed to be more accurate as well. If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. At no time did the gun fail to fire or cycle. I picked this up today from my LGS. It is this sense of safety and security that frees us to pursue our goals and dreams, define our future, and fulfill the promise of America. Manufactured by the S&W Performance Center, this is a Schofield Model of 2000, Wells Fargo Edition. Schofield serial number 1 was among those used by Wells Fargo. Smith & Wessons No. The grips on this short run release are a synthetic resin made to look like mother of pearl. It is similar to the .45 Colt round though shorter and with a slightly larger rim, and will generally work in revolvers chambered for that cartridge; the converse is not true, since the .45 Colt case is longer. You can legally mail order them. Midwest Gun Works Gunsmiths can offer you the knowledge and skill that your Smith & Wesson firearm deserves. Much of that time was spent making fixtures, jigs and tools to make the Model 12. Jesse James was known to carry two pistols on him, one a Colt and one a Schofield. I used that term based on other items they sell, but I was seriously doubtful as to if I was right or not. The "Schofields" were six-shot, single-action revolvers with 7" ribbed barrels, a square butt profile and . The day finally came for me to drop a grand. The problem with many of these efforts by people who dont have experience in gunsmithing/gunmaking to reproduce historic guns is this: they dont know what they dont know. Quantity: Buy now. The key word in that last sentence is try. Id love to own a similar piece someday.