When we think of frontier revolvers, we tend to think Colt Single-Actions or maybe the Remington, like the one famously wielded by American scout Frederick Russell Burnham. But there was another revolver on the scene, a very good one indeed: The Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian Contract Revolver, aka the Russian .44, produced starting in 1872. Louis L’Amour liked to give his heroes a .44 Russian or two. After all, they were great shooters. In their day, they were quite innovative, a good piece for a Frontier Partisan who wanted to arm up on the cutting edge of technology and quality.
American Handgunner reports:
In its first 30 years of existence the .44 Russian cartridge gained a superb reputation for accuracy, of course as fired in the several versions of Smith & Wesson top break revolvers. It’s recorded some notable handgun target shots were able to keep five .44 Russian bullets inside a 3″ circle at 50 yards. That’s probably true, and it should be emphasized not many handguns made today will do that even with smokeless propellants.
The Cap & Ball channel does a good job with firearms history. They’ve just released a video on the S&W Model 3 Russian.
Corb Lund, who knows his history and his firearms, featured the .44 Russian in a tale of tragic mishap. Love this song. It showcases Corb’s wordsmithery. And yodeling.
Quixotic Mainer says
Cabin Fever was an awesome album in it’s entirety!
I tend to lean toward the open top Colts for that era’s short guns, they have such svelte looks, balance and pointablity that even the big Model P never really matched them. However, I would consider a short snouted Wells Fargo No 3 as a crownpiece for the 19th century competition arsenal. I doubt I’d be able to resist rigging her up with speedloaders and doing an occasional USPSA match with a top break too.
Zach says
It’s nice when a little contemporary market variation gets into media and it’s not all Colt SAAs (not to knock the Colt SAA, which remains a pinnacle of the gunmaker’s art).
Bone Tomahawk and the Godless miniseries gave the Merwin & Hulbert a little lime-light for the first time in a a few decades. Deadwood brought out Lafaucheux pinfire revolvers, albeit in pocket form. As the assembled company is more than aware, obsolescent doesn’t equal obsolete. Colt sold its last percussion (non-converted) Model 1849 Pocket revolver in 1889. Rimfire cartridges larger than .22 were made until at least the outbreak of WWI, and Union Metallic Cartridge Company (later Remington UMC) made pinfire cartridges in 7mm, 9mm, and 12mm from the late 1860s until c. 1910. They remained cataloged until at least 1916, with the official decision that the market for pinfire was dead in 1923.
Thanks for the Corb Lund link. I love learning about songs in his oeuvre that I hadn’t come across before.
JimC says
You’re welcome. I tend to proselytize songwriters. Glad it lands somewhere.
Reese Crawford says
Seemed like Conager packed a Schofield but I don’t recall what caliber. Just wish the cylinder was a tad longer so we could have a 357 chambering in a modern reproduction.
JimC says
All hail the .357 Magnum…
Benny Bence says
What a wonderful song! Corb Lund hit the nail on the head with that one. I actually have a non-firing replica of a Smith & Wesson revolver but sadly it’s not a .44 Russian but a Schofield .45. I AM a big fan of the Colt Single Action Army but I also like the Colt Bisley and the 1878 Frontier. I even like the Open Top Colts that they have. But I’d rather have a cap gun than a real gun because even though I like real guns, I don’t necessarily trust them. Because what if there’s a negligent discharge and the bullet hits the wall or the door or even, quite tragically, somebody else? You can’t sit there and say, “Oh, I didn’t know the gun was loaded!” Yeah right. I don’t believe it. I’ve been around guns all my life and let me tell ya. I’ve NEVER seen anyone mishandle a firearm in person. But I HAVE seen numerous YouTube videos where some people mishandle a firearm especially when they are indoors. I’ve actually fired a gun. The first gun I ever fired in fact was a .38 Special Taurus revolver. It didn’t belong to me but to a family friend. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the 2nd Amendment. But there are some people out there that just plain don’t deserve a gun. Now I like the Smith & Wessons and the Ruger Wranglers and the Heritage Rough Riders and all that. But I can’t stand having to try and load a 1911 or a SIG SAEUR or even a Luger. I wouldn’t have a problem with a flintlock pistol either but come on. Those things are lousy! I have several different calibers that I happen to like. The .22s, the .32s, the .44s, the .38s, the .357s, the .45s, AND the .44-40s. Besides the Colt Single Action Army, the Smith & Wesson Schofield, and the Smith & Wesson New Model 3, I also happen to like the Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless that was produced from 1887 to 1940. Probably because it’s easy to conceal. But then again, that’s just me. Let me know what YOU guys think.