S&W No. 3 Schofield chambered in 22lr

johnwilliamson062 · April 6, 2014, 04:46 PM

Does anyone know if any were ever produced from factory? How many, what is the value?
My guess is I am dealing with one of the surplussed US military revolvers that a smith then modified. 22LR was a young round when production stopped in 1889. There were probably guys sitting around a barrel at a trading post talking about how the 22LR was a solution in search of a problem as the last one left the factory.
Were any of the "2000" S&W reproductions chambered in 22lr? Any of the imports? This appears to be a genuine S&W, but maybe it is not.

Jim Watson · April 6, 2014, 05:17 PM

I have not seen any sign of a modern Schofield replica, S&W or Italian, in .22 LR. Nor an original for that matter.
I think you are seeing a gunsmith project.
But a fascinating one, even though it would make a collector cry.

James K · April 6, 2014, 07:23 PM

You should be able to tell the difference between a factory job and gunsmith work. AFAIK, no such gun was made by the factory.

Years ago, several gunsmiths would convert just about any gun from anything to anything (within reason) and a favorite was converting revolvers made for obsolete cartridges to .22 LR.

While some kind of special order cannot be ruled out, I would want to see solid documentation on any such gun claimed to be from the factory.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · April 8, 2014, 11:15 AM

Is it an S&W No. 3, or is it an actual Schofield with the appropriate latch designed by Schofield?

S&W only ever produced the Schofield model in .45 Smith & Wesson.

After S&W and the Government parted ways and no more of the guns would be delivered to the military S&W stopped using Schofield's modifications so they wouldn't have to keep paying him royalties.

After the military surplused the Smith & Wessons, resellers like Bannerman and Hartley, Schuyler & Graham nabbed them and in some cases modified them by shortening the barrels. American Express Co. purchased quite a few surplus Schofields.

Any conversion to another caliber/cartridge would have been done after the gun left government hands. Although I've never heard of such conversions, it wouldn't have been beyond a company like Bannerman's to do so.

Jim Watson · April 8, 2014, 03:31 PM

I bet Alonzo Crull could have done it... if a paying customer asked for it.

(Mr Crull is best known for starting with a Colt Lightning, converting it to .22, changing lockwork to SAO, and reshaping the grip straps to SAA "plowhandle." Kind of an ancestor to the Single Six. But think of the work. Gunsmiths worked cheap in those days.)

James K · April 8, 2014, 07:38 PM

There is a word to describe any gun like that converted to .22: heavy. Not at all practical; there was a very good reason Bill Ruger scaled down the Single Six.

Jim

johnwilliamson062 · April 13, 2014, 04:19 PM

Impractical for a range trip? Non-sense. It isn't as though I will be taking a 100+ year old revolver squirrel hunting.
The guy won't budge off of $1000 for it. I thought $650 was pretty high when I laid the bid. I believe everyone else stopped at about $500. I guess he gets to keep it.

April 6, 2014, 04:46 PM	#1
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	S&W No. 3 Schofield chambered in 22lr Does anyone know if any were ever produced from factory? How many, what is the value? My guess is I am dealing with one of the surplussed US military revolvers that a smith then modified. 22LR was a young round when production stopped in 1889. There were probably guys sitting around a barrel at a trading post talking about how the 22LR was a solution in search of a problem as the last one left the factory. Were any of the "2000" S&W reproductions chambered in 22lr? Any of the imports? This appears to be a genuine S&W, but maybe it is not.

April 8, 2014, 11:15 AM	#4
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,379	Is it an S&W No. 3, or is it an actual Schofield with the appropriate latch designed by Schofield? S&W only ever produced the Schofield model in .45 Smith & Wesson. After S&W and the Government parted ways and no more of the guns would be delivered to the military S&W stopped using Schofield's modifications so they wouldn't have to keep paying him royalties. After the military surplused the Smith & Wessons, resellers like Bannerman and Hartley, Schuyler & Graham nabbed them and in some cases modified them by shortening the barrels. American Express Co. purchased quite a few surplus Schofields. Any conversion to another caliber/cartridge would have been done after the gun left government hands. Although I've never heard of such conversions, it wouldn't have been beyond a company like Bannerman's to do so. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

April 6, 2014, 05:17 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,528	I have not seen any sign of a modern Schofield replica, S&W or Italian, in .22 LR. Nor an original for that matter. I think you are seeing a gunsmith project. But a fascinating one, even though it would make a collector cry.

April 6, 2014, 07:23 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	You should be able to tell the difference between a factory job and gunsmith work. AFAIK, no such gun was made by the factory. Years ago, several gunsmiths would convert just about any gun from anything to anything (within reason) and a favorite was converting revolvers made for obsolete cartridges to .22 LR. While some kind of special order cannot be ruled out, I would want to see solid documentation on any such gun claimed to be from the factory. Jim

April 8, 2014, 03:31 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,528	I bet Alonzo Crull could have done it... if a paying customer asked for it. (Mr Crull is best known for starting with a Colt Lightning, converting it to .22, changing lockwork to SAO, and reshaping the grip straps to SAA "plowhandle." Kind of an ancestor to the Single Six. But think of the work. Gunsmiths worked cheap in those days.)

April 8, 2014, 07:38 PM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	There is a word to describe any gun like that converted to .22: heavy. Not at all practical; there was a very good reason Bill Ruger scaled down the Single Six. Jim

April 13, 2014, 04:19 PM	#7
johnwilliamson062 Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2008 Posts: 9,995	Impractical for a range trip? Non-sense. It isn't as though I will be taking a 100+ year old revolver squirrel hunting. The guy won't budge off of $1000 for it. I thought $650 was pretty high when I laid the bid. I believe everyone else stopped at about $500. I guess he gets to keep it.