Schofields

PDXGraham · July 24, 2017, 12:49 PM

Anyone here have a 7' schofield? I really want a pair ever since seeing 3:10 to Yuma and fell in love with those beauties. How do you like em, quality? Function?

Model12Win · July 24, 2017, 01:00 PM

That's a HUGE Schofield!!

Hawg · July 24, 2017, 01:19 PM

I don't have one but I've heard good things about them. The only downside I know of is they don't handle black powder very well.

Quote:

That's a HUGE Schofield!!

Ain't it tho.

O4L · July 24, 2017, 05:05 PM

I like!

PDXGraham · July 24, 2017, 05:12 PM

That's what dreams are made of

Model12Win · July 24, 2017, 05:53 PM

Yep. Driftwood Johnson, this (and other) forum's premiere revolver expert, does have good things to say about them but they do not handle real black powder ammo nearly as well as the originals. With smokeless though they are considered good guns.

Hawg · July 24, 2017, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Yep. Driftwood Johnson, this (and other) forum's premiere revolver expert, does have good things to say about them but they do not handle real black powder ammo nearly as well as the originals. With smokeless though they are considered good guns.

Reason being the Schofield was never chambered in .45 Colt and to keep the frame the original size Uberti did away with the cylinder bushing that made them function with bp and made the cylinder longer to accept the .45 Colt cartridge.

sltm1 · July 24, 2017, 10:05 PM

I had a couple many years ago, but circumstances and money problems made me sell them. Today I own a Uberti 44 Russian in 45 colt and It's going to the grave or incinerator with me, love it to death !!!

Driftwood Johnson · July 25, 2017, 08:50 AM

Howdy

Thanks for the complement, but I don't claim to be this forum's, or any other forum's premier revolver expert. I just have a lot of revolvers.

Yes, I have a 7" (not 7') Schofield, and it shoots just fine with Black Powder. That's because it was made in 1875 with the original S&W design.

Yes, when Uberti reproduced the Schofield design, as well as the Russian Model and the New Model #3, in order to put a longer cylinder, for 45 Colt and 44-40, into the frame, without lengthening the frame, something had to give. That would be the bushing on the front of the cylinder. They did not actually completely do away with the bushing, but they did shorten it enough that it does not shield the cylinder arbor from fouling blasted out of the Barrel/Cylinder gap as well as the original, longer bushing did.

Here is a photo of a couple of cylinders. The one in front has the shortened bushing. To the rear is how long the bushing should be to properly shield the cylinder arbor from Black Powder fouling blasted out of the B/C gap.

To illustrate, here is the cylinder from my New Model #3. Notice how long the bushing is that is pressed into the front of the cylinder.

Here is the way it goes together. The ejector rod slides inside the arbor, while the bushing stays outside the arbor.

The bushing is approximately .160 proud of the face of the cylinder. That means the opening at the front of the bushing is approximately .160 horizontally removed from the B/C gap. That is enough to protect the arbor from most of the fouling blasted out of the B/C gap.

The smaller bushing on the front of modern Uberti reproduction #3 Top Break revolvers is not tall enough to effectively deflect fouling blasted out of the B/C gap away from the cylinder arbor.

Incidentally, I just put 50 rounds of Black Powder 44 Russian ammo through my NM#3 last weekend at a CAS match. It performed like a champ, except for the one round I put over a target, because I forgot to hold low. These things had very short front sights and tended to shoot high. Removing the cylinder I can see that a little bit of fouling did indeed make it onto the cylinder arbor. But owing in part to the helical clearance cut on the arbor, as well as using bullets lubed with plenty of BP compatible bullet lube, AND leaving a good coating of Ballistol on the arbor, it performed like a champ.

**4V50 Gary** · July 25, 2017, 10:16 AM

Thanks for your insights Driftwood Johnson.

the possum · July 25, 2017, 11:00 AM

I wanted one for a long time. Something about having an old school top break in a big bore caliber really appealed to me. But I could never justify the cost.

So when I came across an old Spanish copy of a different S&W for cheap, I pounced on it. Scratched that itch for a lot less scratch.

Driftwood Johnson · July 25, 2017, 11:16 AM

Howdy Again

Here is the revolver that the possum's Spanish revolver is a copy of.

This is the 44 Double Action, the only double action Top Break S&W made on the #3 sized frame. This one is chambered for 44 Russian, the most common chambering. It left the factory in 1881. It has been refinished, so I got it for a very reasonable price. And owing to the cylinder bushing arrangement, it shoots very well with Black Powder.

rodwhaincamo · July 25, 2017, 11:21 AM

Very cool guns there DWJ!

July 24, 2017, 12:49 PM	#1
PDXGraham Junior Member Join Date: July 23, 2017 Posts: 9	Schofields Anyone here have a 7' schofield? I really want a pair ever since seeing 3:10 to Yuma and fell in love with those beauties. How do you like em, quality? Function?

July 25, 2017, 08:50 AM	#9
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	Howdy Thanks for the complement, but I don't claim to be this forum's, or any other forum's premier revolver expert. I just have a lot of revolvers. Yes, I have a 7" (not 7') Schofield, and it shoots just fine with Black Powder. That's because it was made in 1875 with the original S&W design. Yes, when Uberti reproduced the Schofield design, as well as the Russian Model and the New Model #3, in order to put a longer cylinder, for 45 Colt and 44-40, into the frame, without lengthening the frame, something had to give. That would be the bushing on the front of the cylinder. They did not actually completely do away with the bushing, but they did shorten it enough that it does not shield the cylinder arbor from fouling blasted out of the Barrel/Cylinder gap as well as the original, longer bushing did. Here is a photo of a couple of cylinders. The one in front has the shortened bushing. To the rear is how long the bushing should be to properly shield the cylinder arbor from Black Powder fouling blasted out of the B/C gap. To illustrate, here is the cylinder from my New Model #3. Notice how long the bushing is that is pressed into the front of the cylinder. Here is the way it goes together. The ejector rod slides inside the arbor, while the bushing stays outside the arbor. The bushing is approximately .160 proud of the face of the cylinder. That means the opening at the front of the bushing is approximately .160 horizontally removed from the B/C gap. That is enough to protect the arbor from most of the fouling blasted out of the B/C gap. The smaller bushing on the front of modern Uberti reproduction #3 Top Break revolvers is not tall enough to effectively deflect fouling blasted out of the B/C gap away from the cylinder arbor. Incidentally, I just put 50 rounds of Black Powder 44 Russian ammo through my NM#3 last weekend at a CAS match. It performed like a champ, except for the one round I put over a target, because I forgot to hold low. These things had very short front sights and tended to shoot high. Removing the cylinder I can see that a little bit of fouling did indeed make it onto the cylinder arbor. But owing in part to the helical clearance cut on the arbor, as well as using bullets lubed with plenty of BP compatible bullet lube, AND leaving a good coating of Ballistol on the arbor, it performed like a champ. Last edited by Driftwood Johnson; July 25, 2017 at 07:55 PM.

July 25, 2017, 10:16 AM	#10
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,840	Thanks for your insights Driftwood Johnson. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 24, 2017, 01:00 PM	#2
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	That's a HUGE Schofield!!

July 24, 2017, 05:05 PM	#4
O4L Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2015 Posts: 646	I like!

July 24, 2017, 05:12 PM	#5
PDXGraham Junior Member Join Date: July 23, 2017 Posts: 9	That's what dreams are made of

July 24, 2017, 05:53 PM	#6
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	Yep. Driftwood Johnson, this (and other) forum's premiere revolver expert, does have good things to say about them but they do not handle real black powder ammo nearly as well as the originals. With smokeless though they are considered good guns.

July 24, 2017, 10:05 PM	#8
sltm1 Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 353	I had a couple many years ago, but circumstances and money problems made me sell them. Today I own a Uberti 44 Russian in 45 colt and It's going to the grave or incinerator with me, love it to death !!!

July 25, 2017, 11:00 AM	#11
the possum Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2004 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 555	I wanted one for a long time. Something about having an old school top break in a big bore caliber really appealed to me. But I could never justify the cost. So when I came across an old Spanish copy of a different S&W for cheap, I pounced on it. Scratched that itch for a lot less scratch.

July 25, 2017, 11:16 AM	#12
Driftwood Johnson Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2014 Location: Land of the Pilgrims Posts: 2,033	Howdy Again Here is the revolver that the possum's Spanish revolver is a copy of. This is the 44 Double Action, the only double action Top Break S&W made on the #3 sized frame. This one is chambered for 44 Russian, the most common chambering. It left the factory in 1881. It has been refinished, so I got it for a very reasonable price. And owing to the cylinder bushing arrangement, it shoots very well with Black Powder.

July 25, 2017, 11:21 AM	#13
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	Very cool guns there DWJ!