Something wonderful my way cometh: A pair of Cimarron S&W No. 3 1st Model Americans in .44 Russian/Special

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

I have been shooting open tops for the last few years (I have 6, pairs in 3 calibers) so I have forsaken Top breaks.  Well, I work part time in a local gun shop, and guess what came in?  A Uberti No. 3, 1st Model "American" 5" top break in .44 Spcl/Russian!  It had been back ordered several years ago, apparently, but there is no longer any record of who ordered it, nor was there a deposit paid.  Boss knew I like cowboy guns, and offered it to me, to work off with shifts!  I said "hell yes!".  I liked it so much, I contacted Cimarron and arranged to get an 8" in the same caliber.  I ow have a pair.  They go great with my 1860 Henry and hammered double.  I used them at a local match last week end and loved them.  I am loading a 246 grain, conical round nose lead .44 Russian bullets over 5.3 grains of Unique in a Starline .44 Russian case.  Pretty much dead on at 7 yards.

 

[WymoreWrangler SASS 46187L]

Nice addition...

 

[The Rainmaker, SASS #11631]

Nice

[watab kid]

6they look great , i had some years ago and didnt go well , hope yours work out better , 

[Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646]

I am afraid you may not be able to provide them the emotional support they so desperately need and deserve so I will offer to Foster them until you find them a new home.

 

Imis

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

So far, I am loving them.  I am using them at an annual match in May.  That will ring them out and see if any bugs.  While I have around 500 rounds of 200 grain .44 Colt ammo for my Dave Anderson (Pre0 AFF) 1860 Type I Richards conversions, it seemed like blasphemy to shoot anything other than .44 Russian in them.  I still had about 700 rounds of .44 Russian brass from when I had an orignal No. 3 Russian and later a pair of Open Tops in .44 that I shot Russian through.  I got the .44 Russian/.44 Special 246 grain conical round nose bullets from bear Creek and loaded up about 600 rounds.  So far, I've shot about 50 rounds through each with no problems.

 

I have been researching the American for a pair of Cowboy Chronicle articles on Cimarron's American.  Part One, the history is already in Sjinny's hands to publish in the next Chronicle.  I am working on part two, about Cimarrons guns themselves, as we speak.

 

Most do not know that Wyatt Earp actually used a No. 3 American Model, 8" barreled Smith & Wesson in the Gunfight at the OK Corral.  There were many famous Westerners who liked the Americans: John Westley Hardin, Dallas SToudenmire, Texas Jack OMuhondru, Buffalo Bill Codt, Wyatt Earp, etc.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

WAY KOOL TL!!  Who Made the Leather??  Really outstanding leather.

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

Actually, it is Oklahoma Gun Leather, a division of Don Hume holsters.  They are their "deluxe California Slim Jims, and run about $45 each!  They fit everything from Schofield, aAmericans, Vaqueros, Colt, Open tops.!

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Well gosh all fish hooks!  (Been reading Barks again...)

When these things first came out, I REALLY wanted one in .44 Special for various reasons.  But,  I could not find one in that caliber and had to settle for .45 Colt.   I am jealous!

But, here's the ironic thing...

I have the reproduction American and Schofield in .45.   I have real New Model 3's in .44-40 and .38-44.   I don't have a Russian.   But, you can get the reproduction in .45 Colt, as well as the Beretta Laramie in that caliber as well.  I never intended to do it, but I have a very faint itch to get all four repro's in that same caliber.

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

I absolutely love the .44 Russian cartridge!  When I had a pair of 1872 Open Tops in .44 Special/Colt/Russian I shot 44 Russia.

[DeaconKC]

2 hours ago, Tuolumne Lawman 6127 said:

Actually, it is Oklahoma Gun Leather, a division of Don Hume holsters.  They are their "deluxe California Slim Jims, and run about $45 each!  They fit everything from Schofield, aAmericans, Vaqueros, Colt, Open tops.!

Have you tried them with the Schofields? So many holsters hit the release on them, it is a real challenge finding ones that fit.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

The main reason I wanted my American to be in .44 Special was because my Buntline is in that caliber.   I have a great desire to someday go shooting in Tombstone and be all "Wyatt Earpy" with my guns.

I guess I'll just go with different calibers.

[Warden Callaway]

I have one in 44WCF.   Had to have it. Love it.

 

[DeaconKC]

I love my 44 Specials.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I to have a Cimarron 8"

#3 American 44

Russian-Special .

I really like the gun .

I shoot full load APP with 200gr Lee RNFP in the Russian cartridge. 

It's probably about as close as you can probably get to the original setup .

I'm working on  getting  a Russian  #3 right now .

 

 

[Rafe Conager SASS #56958]

Mine is in 45colt, I use Schofield ammo. Love it but it doesn't like black powder.  So it only gets played with every so often.  I've tried all the subs but no bueno.

Rafe 

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

10 hours ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

I to have a Cimarron 8"

#3 American 44

Russian-Special .

I really like the gun .

I shoot full load APP with 200gr Lee RNFP in the Russian cartridge. 

It's probably about as close as you can probably get to the original setup .

I'm working on  getting  a Russian  #3 right now .

 

 

I have five bottles of APP.  When I run out of Trail Boss, Ill switch to it for my 44 Russian and 44-40 for the Henry.  I am getting to the bottom of a 5 pound jug of TB.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

9 hours ago, Tuolumne Lawman 6127 said:

I have five bottles of APP.  When I run out of Trail Boss, Ill switch to it for my 44 Russian and 44-40 for the Henry.  I am getting to the bottom of a 5 pound jug of TB.

I have about 40 one pound bottles of APP .

It's about as good as it gets for a Sub BP.

I just landed my 45 Russian #3 .

Now I have two #3's 

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

I actually thought about getting 44-40s to go with my 1860 Henry.  I already pretend that the 44-40s are 44 Henry, so I could pretend that I have a first model american in .44 Henry too.

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

The big test for these will be the High Sierra shoot Out annual match at Railroad FlatMemorial Day weekend.  We will see how they perform for 120 rounds.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Have a great shoot Lawman.

This is a beautiful setup .

You always seem to have something the grabs my attention. 

God bless 

Rooster 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

This was never my intention...

When it comes to the Model 3 variants, I have the following in my collection.

 

1.   S&W New Model 3 Target in .38/44

2.  S&W New Model 3 in .44-40

3.  S&W Model 3 DA in .44-40

4.  S&W 3rd Model Schofield in .45 S&W.

5.  Uberti Schofield in .45 Colt.

6.  Uberti American in .45 Colt.

 

Notice that both of my Italian replicas are in .45.  I have learned that the Russian replica is also available in .45.  And of course the Beretta Laramie, a kind of a hybrid between the standard and target New Model 3, is available in .45.  I find myself contemplating getting these last two repros in this caliber so as to have all 4 replicas in the same cartridge.  

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Well now I landed the #3 Russian in 45 to go with my #3 American in 44 .

Now I have two #3's to play with also.

I can't wait to get then out to my range and ring some steal .

Rooster 

 

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

They performed wonderfully. BUT, I still prefer my Anderson 1860 Conversions in .44 Colt!  The 8" T&E one will go back, but the one I bought retail (the 5") will be listed on the SASS Wire classifieds soon.  I'd love to keep them, but the 5" broke the bank, and ca't afford to keep the 8".  Part one of the Article should be in the July Chronicle.  Part two is being written as we speak.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

I have now landed a No. 3 Russian in 44 Russian cartridge and a Russian in 45 Colt cartridge. 

I went from No No.3's too 4 No.3's in like two months .

I'm actually pretty impressed on how accurate the No. 3 is .

 

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

The American was perfectly regulated at 10-15 yards with 246 grain, round nose .44 Russian factort duplication loads.  VERY accurate.

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

On 6/28/2024 at 9:42 PM, Tuolumne Lawman 6127 said:

The American was perfectly regulated at 10-15 yards with 246 grain, round nose .44 Russian factort duplication loads.  VERY accurate.

Is your American actually a 44 Russian  ?

Mine is a 44 Special so of course I can shoot both .

 

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

I says ".44 Russian/Colt/Smith & Wesson special"

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

My American Model Cowboy Chronicle article, part One. Starting on page 43.

https://www.sassnet.com/uploads/downloads/cowboychronicle/2024/JulyChronGO2024.pdf

 

 

 

[DeaconKC]

4 hours ago, Tuolumne Lawman 6127 said:

My American Model Cowboy Chronicle article, part One. Starting on page 43.

https://www.sassnet.com/uploads/downloads/cowboychronicle/2024/JulyChronGO2024.pdf

 

 

 

And I quite enjoyed your article! Thank you!

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Very good article. 

Thank you for all the hard work and dedication it takes to put out that quality of article. 

Superb job .

Rooster 

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

Well, the 5" has a new home.  I may keep the 8" as a back-up to my 44 Colt conversions.  It will shoot the 44 Colt ammo, so I don't have to bring two pistol calibers to a match.  I may even use the American and one 1860 conversion , using the other 1860 as back up.  While I can't totally go away from the Conversions, one American and one 1860 wold be slick.

[Warden Callaway]

I shot my 5" 44WCF in several matches. I didn't help my scores.  But I'm not in the competition anyway. 

 

[Tuolumne Lawman 6127]

LOL I feel your pain, I was much slower with the Americans than I am with my 5.5" 1860 conversions!

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

It's more about style then winning a bingo chip that says first place .

I like to shoot all different kinds of guns .

You never know what I might show up and shoot with .