GUN FALL 2015
The live portion of this session begins on Monday, October 5, 2015.
SMITH & WESSON FIRST MODEL SCHOFIELD SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER WITH THE VERY RARE KELTON SAFETY.SMITH & WESSONSCHOFIELD FIRST MODEL224045 SCHOFIELDCal 45 Schofield. Blue finish with 7" key-hole bbl, pinned half-moon front sight with fixed rear sight in the bbl latch. Both sides of ejector housing have standard Schoefield markings. Mounted with smooth 2-pc walnut grips, matching numbered to this revolver. Left grip has the outline of its orig inspector cartouche. Buttstrap has a small "US" on the toe. Right side of frame, back of the recoil shield is mounted with the Kelton safety which is a short lever with large, checkered, dished thumbpiece that when placed in the "up" position locks the hammer which cannot be fired until the safety is released. According to Smith & Wesson, 1857-1945, Neal & Jinks, in about 1887 the US Ordnance Dept. at Springfield Arsenal reportedly fitted 25 Schoefield revolvers with the Kelton hammer safety. According to referenced publication, all of the ones examined as of that writing are within the serial range of about 1900 to 2600, which encompasses this revolver. Accompanied by a Smith & Wesson factory letter which identifies this revolver in Cal. 45 Schoefield, shipped July 12 1875 to the US Government. It left the factory with 7" bbl, blue finish and smooth walnut grips. The letter further states that they have no record regarding the Kelton safety, that such work was performed at a US Government arsenal. CONDITION: Fine, all matching. Bbl retains 60-65% orig blue with the balance a plummy brown patina. Frame retains about 80-85% orig blue with sharp edge wear and some light scratches. Frontstrap retains strong glossy blue, the backstrap about 60% orig blue & the buttstrap a grey patina. Cylinder retains dark blue in the flutes with flaked thin blue on the outer diameter with some light spots of rust. Grips are sound with a few nicks & scratches and show a hand worn patina. Hammer retains about 75% bright case colors and the trigger guard strong case colors on the sides, faded to silver elsewhere. Mechanics are crisp. Bright shiny bore. 49494-1 JR (15,000-25,000)