POTD: S&W No. 3 First Model American – Revolver That Beat Colt
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a Smith & Wesson No. 3 First Model American manufactured 1870-1872. This was Smith & Wesson’s first large-frame cartridge revolver and their answer to Colt’s dominance in military revolvers.
The Model 3 American was revolutionary for its time. The top-break design allowed simultaneous ejection of all spent cartridges by breaking the barrel downward, which automatically activated the star extractor. This was significantly faster than the Colt Single Action Army’s loading gate and ejector rod system that required removing cases one at a time.
The .44 American cartridge was developed specifically for this revolver. It pushed a 218-grain bullet at approximately 730 fps – adequate power for military and frontier use. The 8-inch barrel provided good velocity and sight radius for accurate shooting. The U.S. Army purchased 1,000 Model 3 Americans for cavalry trials in 1871. Though reports were generally favorable, the Army ultimately adopted the Colt Single Action Army in 1873. Smith & Wesson’s loss of the military contract was a major setback, though the Model 3 proved successful in commercial sales and foreign military contracts.
The Russian government purchased thousands of Model 3 revolvers in .44 Russian caliber starting in 1871, creating the famous “Russian Model” variants. These Russian contracts kept Smith & Wesson profitable when domestic military sales went to Colt. Assembly number “J4” appears on grip frame, cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch showing proper fitting during manufacture. The nickel finish was popular for its corrosion resistance compared to bluing.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“Smith & Wesson No. 3 First Model American Single Action Revolver.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5030/728/smith-wesson-no-3-first-model-american-single-action-revolver. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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