U.S. Smith & Wesson 1st Model Schofield .45 S&W 7″ Revolver 1875 Antique

Sold for $5560.00

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: Schofield 1st Model

Serial Number: 2069

Year of Manufacture: 1875

Caliber: .45 S&W (Schofield), Black Powder Only

Action Type: 6-Shot, Single Action, Top-Break, Self-Ejecting Revolver

Markings: The left side of the ejector shroud is marked “SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A. PAT. JAN. 17TH / & 24TH 65. JULY 11TH 65. AUG. 24TH 69. JULY 25TH 71”, the right is marked “SCHOFIELD’S PAT. APR. 22D 1873”, the underside is marked “C P” and with what appears to be a backward “B”. The frame under the cylinder is marked “L”.  The rear face of the cylinder is marked with the serial number “2069” and “L P”. The butt of the grip frame is marked “US” and with the serial number “2069”. The interior of the right grip panel is stamped with the serial number “2069”.

Barrel Length: 7?

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a half-round blade pinned to the rib. The rear sight is a square notch in the barrel latch. The rib has a “V” groove that runs the length of the rib and top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are smooth walnut panels. There are some scattered compressions, draglines, and dings, the most noticeable are on the bottom faces. There are some dings into the wood on the bottom edges that have smoothed out with age. There are oil stains and discoloration. There are no cracks. The grips rate in about Very Good overall condition as antique.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp. There are some scattered spots of light erosion and minor pitting.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 45% of its metal finish. The remaining bluing is on the frame and on the recessed areas. There are areas of patina and discoloration, most noticeable on the barrel, grip frame, and cylinder. There are a few areas of minor surface erosion, mostly on the barrel and cylinder. There is finish loss on the edges. There are some nicks and scratches, some of the most noticeable are on the sides of the frame. There is a turn line on the cylinder. The screwheads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Good condition due to mechanics.

Mechanics: The action DOES NOT function correctly. After cocking the hammer and pulling the trigger, the hammer cannot be cocked again and the cylinder will not properly rotate. The ejector still functions properly and the hammer has a strong mainspring. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This revolver comes to us from 1875 as a 1st Model Schofield in .45 S&W, with inspector marks, “US” marking on the toe and all serialized parts match, which is amazing for a revolver of its age and viable role in military history. The U.S. Army adopted the .44 S&W American caliber Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolver in 1870, making the Model 3 revolver the first standard-issue cartridge-firing revolver in US service. Most military pistols until that point were black powder cap and ball revolvers, which were (by comparison) slow, complicated, and susceptible to the effects of wet weather. In 1875 the US Ordnance Board granted Smith & Wesson a contract to outfit the military with Model 3 revolvers incorporating the design improvements of Major George W. Schofield (known as the “Schofield revolver”), providing that they could make the revolvers fire the .45 Colt (AKA “.45 Long Colt”) ammunition already in use by the US military. Smith & Wesson instead developed their own, slightly shorter .45 caliber round, the .45 Schofield, otherwise known as the .45 S&W. This item still has some of its bluing left, the bore is mostly semi-bright with highly defined rifling. If you are a collector of Smith & Wesson or martially marked firearms, your collection is not complete without a US Schofield, especially one that has survived this nicely. Please see our pictures and good luck!