S&W No. 3 Third Model Russian

[gw74r]

My In-laws are considering selling this and asked me to confirm it's value.
If anyone can offer an opinion on it's condition and value, or steer me the right direction for who might know, that would be appreciated.

On barrel: (mark)SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS USA PAT. JULY 10.60. JAN 17. FEB 17. JULY 11. 65. & AUG 24. 69 RUSSIAN MODEL # REISSUE JULY 25. 1871
On Butt plate: SH in a diamond 38363
On cylinder: 47

Thanks in advance for your help,

Gary

[mosin of nagareth]

Found this on page 95, Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, 3rd ed.:
"Changes from the Second Model include shorter extractor housing than its predecessor and integral front sight forged as part of barrel rather than a pinned-on separate blade."
You sure it's a 3rd model?
From the pictures, it looks like the front sight is pinned.
I could be mistaken.

[Emdawg]

Not a real expert on S&W revolvers, just my opinion, but that one is likely one that never made it to Russia and remained in the US for commercial sale after the Imperials defaulted on their contract.

As for condition and value, from the photos, they blued or nickeled the guns and that one does not look nickel finish to me, so someone probably buffed off the blue for whatever reason to make it look "pretty". That hurts the value quite a bit and I have no idea how the bore is on it or if it is mechanically sound. All that affects value. Better pictures would be a great help.

I would say you could get $700 (if that is naked steel), more or less. If that revolver was in much better shape, then you would be looking at $1200-2500. If that is nickel, then there is a different price range.

If it is original nickel, then that would be in really darn good shape and worth around the $2000+ mark. If that is a re-nickel, then about $1000-1400.


I might be wrong, but that is my two cents. Clearer pictures would be a big help.