Offered here is a documented and rare factory engraved example of S&W's .44 Double Action Frontier Revolver which is pictured and identified in Dean Boorman's "The History of the Smith & Wesson Firearms" at the top of page 110. The accompanying factory letter confirms this revolver as a special order factory engraved .44 Double Action Frontier which was shipped on November 4, 1901 (all frames of this model were manufactured prior to 1899, making this gun an antique) and delivered to Charles Cricks (address not listed). It is not often that we catalog 19th-early 20th century S&Ws shipped to an individual, as it was standard factory practice to ship to an official S&W distributor. The revolver features S&W factory style no. 3 floral scroll and punch dot engraving by Oscar Young, son of Gustave Young. The top of the barrel rib is marked with the two-line address/patent dates, "44 WINCHESTER CTG" is marked on the left side of the barrel, and the matching serial number is marked on the butt (partially removed serial number as drilled and tapped for a lanyard, filler screw present), cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. The revolver wears a set of S&W medallion pearl grips. The revolver is pictured in the 4th edition of "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" on page 122. Provenance: The Supica Collection
Very fine. The barrel, frame and trigger guard retain 75% bright original high polish blue finish and the cylinder retains 20% original blue finish mostly in the protected areas of the flutes with a smooth brown-gray patina on the balance. The engraving is crisp. 95% original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger. There is a small repaired chip on the right panel and slight surface chipping at the top of the left panel, otherwise the grips are very fine with highly attractive fiery colors. Mechanically excellent. A very rare factory engraved 44-40 DA, seldom found are the engraved .44 Russian models.
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