3264

SMITH & WESSON NM NO.3 USED BY FAMED MARKSMAN

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
SMITH & WESSON NM NO.3 USED BY FAMED MARKSMAN
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 Aug 07 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
WALTER WINANS. Cal. 450 Eli. S# 3552. Bbl. 6 1/2". Round blade front sight. U-notch rear sight. Matching numbers on bbl latch, frame, cyl. & right grip panel. This revolver was shipped in 1895 to Walter Winans the famed Olympic marksman in London, England. Winans would use 22 New Model No. 3 revolvers during his career. Winans was a born in St. Petersburg, Russia to Russian & American parents. At 18 he would travel to England & become an American citizen by taking the oath of allegiance at the U.S. embassy. He would not actually visit the USA until the age of 58. This citizenship question caused controversy in 1908, when his citizenship was called into question due him never having set foot in the USA by that point. Newspapers of his time stated "The finest revolver shot in the world, so far as gallery practice is concerned, is probably Walter Winans, whose records at the galleries in London in off-hand shooting with heavy caliber revolvers has never been authentically beaten" & Winans "not only equaled but beaten some of his previous records". He was the only American to win medals in both shooting & art, with the latter for his sculpture "An American Trotter". His shooting medals were for the gold in running deer shooting in 1908 (double shot) and the silver in 1912 (team). Retailer applied gold finish. Backstrap has "RAPID 1896" engraving likely from one of Winans' rapid fire completions. Winans stated "I won all my rapid-firing revolver competitions using the single action and cocking with the thumb, as this rested my trigger finger." Left sideplate has hand stamped "45" marking. Varied parts have small British proofs. Checkered hard rubber grips with S&W monograms. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: factory letter that states the gun shipped with target sights but this is a factory error. The letter otherwise confirms the guns config. such as the special order long extractor housing & states it was shipped to Winans in London in 1895. Also included are a previous auction sale description of this revolver & other documented Winans revolver sales. CONDITION: grips show light handling & usage wear with very fine checkering. Hammer & trigger retain 97% case colors with minor operational wear. Balance of metal retains 97% retailer applied gold finish with minor flaking. Action functions properly when hand cycled. Near excellent bright bore. PROVENANCE: Former Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection. (01-29809/MJC). ANTIQUE. $7000-10,000.