Smith & Wesson S&W 1st Model .44 Russian Double Action 5″ Revolver, Antique

SOLD FOR: $2,075.00

LSB#: LSB251007CL043

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: .44 Double Action 1st Model

Serial Number:  12372

Year of Manufacture: 1881-1913 / Although cataloged into the twentieth century, all frames were manufactured prior to 1899, making this gun an Antique.

Caliber: .44 Russian

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “SMITH & WESSSON, SPRINGFIELD, MASS,U.S.A. PAT’D JAN 17 & 24. 65” / Followed by a series of patent dates on the second line. The serial number “12372” is marked on the butt of the grip frame and the rear of the cylinder. 

Action Type: Break-Top Double Action/Single Action Revolver, 6 shot

Barrel Length: 5″ Ribbed

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a half-moon coin that has been welded to the barrel to replace the original blade front sight.  The rear sight is a “V”-notch in the raised portion of the barrel catch.

Grip Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood grips with diamonds around the screw holes. The grips have handling wear and scratches and dings throughout.  The checkering has been worn. The right grip is inscribed with the serial number inside to match the revolver. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good Condition.

Type of Finish: Blue, Case colored hammer and trigger.

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is intermittent fouling present in the bore but there is no erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 40% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish is turning to a plum patina.  There are significant scratches on the right side of the frame. The blue finish is only present in protected areas such as the underside of the rib and cylinder flutes. There are scattered marks throughout. There is a turnline on the cylinder and the cylinder stops show wear. The action shows operational wear. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Good to Very Good Condition as an antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup is tight with little play.  We have not fired this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment:  Smith and Wesson’s .44 Double Action First Model represents the final and most powerful evolution of the company’s large frame top break revolvers, introduced in 1881 at a time when demand for big bore, fast handling handguns was at its peak.  The name Smith & Wesson has been synonymous with finely crafted American made firearms since 1852. Chambered for the .44 Russian cartridge, this model combined substantial stopping power with a double action trigger and rapid break top extraction, making it one of the most formidable personal defense revolvers of the late 19th century.  Chambered in .44 Russian, it was a big bore “gunfighter’s gun”. In fact, the famed Texas gunfighter and notorious “badman” John Wesley Hardin was carrying an S&W .44 Double Action when he met his end in the Acme Saloon in El Paso in 1895.  These revolvers earned a reputation as serious “gunfighter’s guns” and were carried by lawmen, civilians, and notorious figures alike during the closing years of the American frontier, cementing their place in firearms history.

This example, built on a pre 1899 frame and therefore qualifying as an antique, retains approximately 40 percent of its original finish, with the remaining surfaces having aged to an attractive plum patina. The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling and rates 9 out of 10, showing only intermittent fouling and no erosion. The revolver shows honest wear consistent with age and use, including scattered scratches and cylinder stop wear, while the markings remain clear and legible. The wood grips show handling wear but remain solid, with the right panel correctly numbered to the revolver. Mechanically, the action functions correctly with tight cylinder lockup, underscoring the durability of Smith and Wesson’s late top break designs. As an antique example of Smith and Wesson’s last major top break revolver, this piece offers strong historical presence and authentic frontier era character. Please see our high resolution photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck on your bid!

BF