Product Details
A RARE .44 (RIMFIRE) SMITH & WESSON SECOND MODEL RUSSIAN TURKISH CONTRACT REVOLVER, serial no. 120 (W),
circa 1874, with blued 7in. barrel, the sighting rib signed and marked with patent dates to 1869, long ejector housing, blade fore-sight, standing notch rear-sight, break-open frame with automatic ejection, blued fluted cylinder, blued frame (not altered from central fire), colour-hardened spurred trigger-guard bow, replacement smooth walnut grips, the whole well refinished, (barrel 'purpled'), the heel of butt stamped with a 'W' mark below the serial number
Provenance: The Turkish government contracted with Smith & Wesson three times for .44 rimfire revolvers. The first contract for 1000 guns were numbered in the 1-9000 number range and were made on virgin frames. The second contact for a further 2000 guns were made and numbered in the standard commercial number range but utilised frames altered by plugging the firing pin holes of pre-existing central fire frames and re-cutting for rimfire. The last contract was actually for third model revolvers. Another 5000 were ordered, again made from altered frames, but it is this contract that are supposed to have been marked with a 'W' inspector's mark. It is possible of course that the 'W' mark on this example was added later by the Turkish for conformity reasons
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Estimate £3,500-4,500
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament