ITEM # 194
Smith & Wesson Japanese Contract New Model No. 3 Revolver

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serial #27240, 44 Russian, 6 1/2" barrel with an excellent bore. This revolver is stamped with the Toyokawa Naval Base single anchor stamp on the butt and has matching numbers on the barrel, latch, and cylinder. The metal has a pleasant plum-brown patina blending smoothly with bright original blue, mostly on protected areas under the barrel rib, in the cylinder flutes, around the recoil shield, and ejector housing. The hammer retains strong case colors and the checkered wooden grips are very good with moderate flattening to the points and a thick military oil finish. Some very minor handling marks are visible in the wood and what looks like the remnants of Japanese characters in white paint on both panels. The revolver comes with an original brown leather flap holster which has an extensively crazed but still supple surface and four white painted, parallel bars on the underside of the cover. The end plug is a later replacement and the seam is slightly split at the muzzle end. This is a very good Japanese Navy marked No. 3 overall which has its scarce original holster. (2076-20) {ANTIQUE} (2000/3000) SOLD FOR $3335.00