Smith & Wesson 44 Double Action Open top "First Model" Antique Revolver .44 Russian $4300

Please text anytime 6476871484. Fully functional antique revolver in perfect and ready to shoot condition ,very good action, no PAL needed.

Reloadable ammo is available but sold separately

Comes with FRT RCMP paperwork.

Smith & Wesson 44 Double Action "First Model", .44 Russian

This one is in very good condition. With original finish remains, the markings are well visible. The action is strong and accurate, and the cylinder indexes and locks properly. There is minimal side-to-side movement. The bore of the 6 inch barrel is very good, with strong rifling and little signs of wear and use. The original wooden grips are very good and undamaged. There is no wear visible. The front sight has been upgraded with a German silver blade for better accuracy. SN 12499, very good overall.​

History & Background

Smith and Wesson's first double action design dates back to at least 1872 - years before Colt ever attempted a double action cartridge revolver. It was mentioned in a letter to the Russian envoy General Orlof, and although the sale to Russia never materialized, it served to pave the way for the very popular and successful line of double action top break revolvers. The .44 Russian model was actually the first to be produced as a prototype, and the last to be released for sale to the public. For this reason there exists a degree of confusion over the proper terminology: the first one to be manufactured for sale was the .38 caliber model, followed by the .32. The .44 caliber model was not released until 1881, and is variably known as the No. 3 Double Action, the Double Action "Navy" (a name Daniel Wesson wanted to keep alive to differentiate this model from the No. 3 single action, and still holding out hope to sell it to the Russian navy), and the First Model Double Action. Originally, the .44 Double Action was made with a 1 7/16 inch cylinder, however an optional .44-40 version was available as of 1886. This required a 1 9/16 inch cylinder, and a longer frame. The firm soon realized that it was too expensive and cumbersome to manufacture two different sizes of frames for what was essentially the same gun, and the shorter cylinder and frame were dropped for the longer one in the early 1890's. The No. 3 frame .44 double action top breaks were dropped from the Smith and Wesson catalogue in 1913.