Finally found Beretta Laramie

[Long Gun Preacher]

Although I wasn't looking, I came across one of my "unicorns"-a Beretta Laramie in 45lc. In 5 inches.   I've never owned a top break and would appreciate any advice from fellow shooters as to holsters, shooting, etc.  With thanks (the pic is of a stock gun. Not mine)

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Edited February 12, 2022 by Long Gun Preacher

[DeaconKC]

I am using this holster for my 5" Schofield.

https://www.huntercompany.com/products/embossed-texas-jockstrap-holster?_pos=2&_sid=a79a70c55&_ss=r

[Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283]

Howdy

 

The Laramie is a replica of the Smith and Wesson New Model Number Three. S&W cataloged this model from 1878 until 1913, although all frames had been made prior to 1899, so as far as the BATF is concerned they are all antiques. In my very humble opinion the NM#3 was the best of the five separate Top Break models that S&W made on the large, #3 frame. The grip frame is much easier to deal with than the awkward grip of the Russian Model, and the originals had a rebounding hammer. The New Model #3 was chambered for 17 different cartridges, 44 Russian being the most common. It was never chambered for 45 Colt.

 

I have two of them, the blued one left the factory in 1896, the nickel plated one shipped in 1882 and was refinished at the factory in 1965. Both are chambered for 44 Russian.

 

 

 

 

 

Interestingly enough, the Laramie has a windage adjustable rear sight, but the standard half moon shaped front sight. I'm still kicking myself over this New Model Number Three Target Model that I passed up buying a few years ago. Notice the target rear sight as well as the target front sight.

 

 

 

 

 

I had a pair of Slim Jim holsters made by El Paso Saddlery. Obviously, I have had this holster for quite a while. I had El Paso line the insides of the holsters and spent a little more money on border stamping.  El Paso is not cheap, their holsters are top quality. You have the choice of left or right, belt width, russet or black, and cross draw or straight hang.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing I learned a long time ago shooting any S&W Model 3 revolver, they all tend to shoot high. This is because the front sight is so low. I have to remember to hold on the bottom half of a CAS target or the shot may go over the target.

 

 

 

I only shoot my #3 Top Breaks with Black Powder. They were designed for Black Powder and I can shoot them all day long without them binding. Most shooters report that because Uberti (yes, the Laramie was made by Uberti, but marketed by parent company Beretta) messed with the design of the cylinder bushing at the front of the cylinder, all of the replicas of the #3 Top Breaks tend to bind up quickly when shot with Black Powder cartridges.

 

Edited February 12, 2022 by Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283

[Trailrider #896]

I have a Laramie that I bought when they first came out, primarily because I liked the feel of the originals.  My Laramie is in .45LC, with a 6-1/2" barrel, but I have never fired it, primarily because when SASS prohibited their use due to the windage "adjustable" rear sight. (Frankly, adjusting the Laramie requires the use of a very tiny blade screwdriver to loosen the rear blade, then sighting it in and tightening the screws. Never could see the reason, as a "fixed" sight could be "adjusted" using a Swiss file on the cut, something not to be done at a match, certainly.  Mine came with several different height blades and a space locking piece, though it appears that, too has room for the setscrews.  The thing that is neat about both the original NM#3's (except for the target models) and the Laramie, is that the hammer is of the rebounding type, so the gun could be carried with all six chambers loaded, unlike most single action sixguns. 

 

FWIW, Trailrider Products can make holsters for the Laramie.   www.gunfighter.com/trailrider 

 

Stay well and safe, Pards!

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

SASS prohibits the use of Laramies in the categories requiring fixed sight revolvers due to the adjustable rear sight.

 

HOWEVER:

Quote

The Beretta “Laramie” rear latch with the adjustable rear sight may be replaced with the rear latch (with fixed sight) from the “Russian” Model to be allowed as a fixed sight model revolver.

SHB p.35

[Long Gun Preacher]

thank you all-incredible info!

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

As Driftwood pointed out, the Laramie is a reproduction of the S&W New Model 3.   I have two of them, one with standard sights in .44-40 an and a target sight model in .38-44, which basically a .38 S&W case made as long as the cylinder.

 

This is the .44-40 with standard sights.

 

 

This is the generic holster I got at Cabelas for 10 bucks.  Pretty much everything fits in it, including my 7.5" Colts, and as you can see, the S&W.

 

As far as Model 3's go, I have a (reproduction) American, a (reproduction) Schofield, two original New Model 3's, and one original Model 3 DA.   I don't yet have a Russian.   Of the different types, I actually find the DA to be to be easier to operate in SA mode than the ones that are designed as SA guns, but let that go.  Of the real SA's I find the New Model to be the best of the bunch, and also the easiest to work the latch in case of a needed reload.  (Never happened yet!)

Shooting the S&Ws is very different from a Colt style gun, but they are a lot of fun to shoot.  I wish you well with yours, and think you will enjoy it a lot.



This, by the way, has the two real Smiths pointing right, and the reproductions pointing left.   You can see the different sights on the lower New Model 3.   On the right, the American is on top, the Schofield on the bottom.

 

[Irish Pat]

I don’t quite understand the problem about the sight on the Laramie. Don’t some shooters have Ruger Blackhawks and colt new Frontiers? I think it is silly to think have to replace the rear sight to use a Laramie. I would love to get one but I don’t want to start having to replace parts

[PaleWolf Brunelle, #2495L]

7 minutes ago, Irish-Pat said:

I don’t quite understand the problem about the sight on the Laramie. Don’t some shooters have Ruger Blackhawks and colt new Frontiers? I think it is silly to think have to replace the rear sight to use a Laramie. I would love to get one but I don’t want to start having to replace parts

 

Adjustable sighted revolvers are allowed in "Open", "Age Based" categories, and "B-Western".

REF: SHB pp. 5-10

[Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283]

5 hours ago, Trailrider #896 said:

The thing that is neat about both the original NM#3's (except for the target models) and the Laramie, is that the hammer is of the rebounding type, so the gun could be carried with all six chambers loaded, unlike most single action sixguns. 

 

 

Howdy Trailrider

 

You are correct, the New Model Number Three (except the target models for some reason) had a rebounding hammer. Lets look at the insides of one for a moment.

 

This is the hammer at the full cock position. The trigger sear is resting in the full cock notch of the hammer.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the 'half cock' or loading position of the hammer. The sear is resting in the 'half cock' notch on the hammer.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the position of the lock parts at the instant the hammer falls. Normally, a spring rocks the hammer back after firing, but I am holding the hammer forward with my thumb for the photo.

 

 

 

 

 

In this photo, the trigger spring has rocked the hammer back and the sear has popped into a tiny 'safety notch' on the hammer. This is the normal 'rebounding hammer' position.  Take a look at how tiny the 'safety notch' (my term) is. I would never trust this arrangement to keep the revolver safe with a live round under the hammer. The parts are so tiny in cross section that it would not take much of a blow to the hammer spur to shear something off and allow the revolver to fire if dropped onto the hammer with a live round under the hammer. I treat my Top Beak S&W revolvers the same way I treat a Colt. I never lower the hammer on a live round. I always only load them with five rounds because the parts are so fragile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe Uberti put some sort of safety mechanism into the Laramie that did not exist in the originals. I have never actually handled one, so of course I have not been able to take one apart to see how safe it would be carrying it fully loaded with six rounds.

Edited February 13, 2022 by Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283

[Blackwater 53393]

Pull the grips and make sure that the mainspring doesn’t bind against the lower portion of the frame.  If it does, re-arch the spring to clear the frame so that it doesn’t touch the frame.  It will make the gun easier to cock and won’t effect its ability to bust a primer!  

Many of these guns came from the factory with this issue.

[Long Gun Preacher]

I very much appreciate all the advice.  Question for those who own a laramie or similar-would the slip-on brass front sight make a difference in lowering the POA?

[Trailrider #896]

Driftwood's comments on the fragility of the rebound "safety" notch are spot on! As far as SASS is concerned, "five beans in the wheel" is the only way it is allowed anyway. In point of fact, even with transfer bars, etc., I always packed Ruger SA's with the hammer down on an empty chamber! (I wear both a belt and suspenders, too!  )  Don't know how the Laramie is constructed, and don't intend to take mine apart to find out. The rebounding hammer was an interesting idea for the originals, but still not a satisfactory way to pack one with all six chambers loaded.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I have several number threes but.

I'm still looking for a Beretta Laramie.

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

1 hour ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

I have several number threes but.

I'm still looking for a Beretta Laramie.

 

 

Ditto,

Wow, talk about an old thread resurfacing.      

Just for kicks, I have more Model 3's than I did 4 years ago when I posted what I have.

Here's the updated collection...



From top to bottom...

Cimarron Uberti American, 45 Colt.
S&W New Model 3, .38-44
Cimarron Uberti American .44 Special
S&W New Model 3, .44-40
Navy Arms Uberti Schofield, .45 Colt.
S&W Third Model Schofield .45 S&W.
S&W Model 3 DA, .44-40.

Still no Laramie or Russian.  Would love to find one of each in .45 Colt, then I'll have all the replicas in the same caliber.

I'd love to have a New Model 3 in .32-20.   But, S&W never made them, and none of the reproduction makers do either.  Oh well.

I also have this...



Looks like a New Model 3, right?  Well, it isn't.   This is a Model 1891 in 38 S&W.  It's about 3/4 the size of a NM3, and is only a 5 shooter.

There's also this....



This sorta looks like the model 3 DA, but is only about half the size, and is a .32 S&W.  They called it the Double Action Fourth Model.   They really got a lot of mileage out of this basic design.