Smith Model 3 in 44 Russian

[Bopper]

I have a Smith & Wesson Model 3 chambered in .44 Russian. The gun is in really decent condition overall with little to no rust, and a fair amount of bluing still left on it. It's in excellent condition mechanically and is still operational, although I haven't fired it in several years.

The barrel & cylinder serial numbers are matching and in the 15xxx range. The serial number on the frame is in the 28xxx range.

I'm curious as to the value of this weapon and it's marketability as a parts gun. Anyone have any idea?

Thanks

[Emdawg]

Well if that is an original then it is worth quite a bit. It is not matching, but finding a working one, nonetheless, is pretty rare.

Why would you want to turn it into a parts gun? Some collectors would fight like gladiators for those things.

[Simply115]

It works, why turn it into parts?

[Bopper]

I wouldn't consider parting it out. I was pointing out that the pistol doesn't have all matching serial numbers, what I call a parts gun. Sorry for the confusion.

I agree it has real value as a working and fine example.

Thanks

[Alan Block]

I would send it in to Mitch's Mausers for some matching numbers a Tulla stamp and maybe General Vladislav engraved on the back strap!

[Bopper]

I would send it in to Mitch's Mausers for some matching numbers a Tulla stamp and maybe General Vladislav engraved on the back strap!

You would huh?

[af240z]

I think what Alan meant was that he'd send it to Mitchell's to get capture marks from finland, germany, and japan, and add a tula mark + cartouche on the grips

[Bopper]

I really don't want to do anything to it. It's a great piece of history as is. I believe it would be of interest to the right person.

Anyone have an idea of value?

Thanks,

[Emdawg]

If you go on Gunbroker you can find them anywhere from $500 to nearly $4000.

Yours looks nice. Mismatching numbers and a little rust drives down the value.

Have you fired it?

[Bopper]

Yes I have fired it. It's really cool and surprisingly accurate. It has a great trigger on it.

I also checked gunbroker before posting in calguns and saw numbers all over the place. It's kind of hard to come up with a good number based on what I've seen. Many of the original blue guns don't look as good as mine. I saw a couple of comps out there for special guns with history that were astronomical.

Thanks

[Emdawg]

The lowest you could sell that thing for is $800 and someone will probably jump on it. You might get up to $1500 or so. A normal Model won't go for that much in that shape, but a Russian contract should.

I may be wrong, but that is what seems reasonable for a top break like yours to me.

[Bopper]

Thanks for the info Emdawg, sounds reasonable.

[Marcus von W.]

Folks here are kidding about sending it to Mitchell's Mausers... MM is famous for fraud, fakery, and lies - sometimes taking what might actually be valuable and historic firearms and then completely azzing them up.

You would probably have to do a bit of research and check the various gun auction sites, and dealers of things of this nature, to see what current fair market value would be. It's a classic "Old West" S&W in good shape, and ammo should be available or can be easily made from .44 Special or .44 Magnum brass, so even mismatched it should have significant value and collector appeal.

I don't know that something like that would be worth, but would pay $500 for it in an instant, and don't think the prices Emdog mentioned are at all out of line.

If you are seriously wanting to sell it, maybe put it on Gunbroker with something like a $1,200 reserve and an opening bid of $100, and see where it goes from there. That way you can kind of gauge response and what people are willing to pay, without worrying about it being one of those fluke auctions where no one seems to see or be interested in it and you end up giving it away for next to nothing.

[Bopper]

Very good info Marcus, thank you. I knew something was up with the MM comments but was trying to be cordial. Thanks again.

[Emdawg]

Very good info Marcus, thank you. I knew something was up with the MM comments but was trying to be cordial. Thanks again.

I think they were just teasing with the Mitchell's comments. Like what Marcus was saying they can take a beater Russian-capture K98 and turn into a "never-issued" monstrosity and they jack up the price.