Something I just noticed about my "Third Model" Schofield.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I was cleaning my Third Model S&W Schofield today, you know, the one where they moved the firing pin from the hammer to one floating in the frame, and I noticed something.   When the hammer is down, the firing pin stays forward.  Nor does the hammer rebound like the New Model 3 did.  In other words, if there were a cartridge in chamber, it would be pressing on the primer.  When I saw that, I found myself wondering why the heck S&W bothered with the change.   I remember when the guns came out in 2000 that there was some criticism of the change.   Since it clearly serves no purpose, and makes the gun look less "historic" than the Italian copies, I really wonder what the purpose was.

Oh well.

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Simple, lower the hammer in-between the cases. 

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

1 hour ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Simple, lower the hammer in-between the cases. 

 

Can't do that on mine. To lower the hammer, the Schofield has to be fully cocked first. The bolt stop is up preventing the cylinder from being moved.

 

Also, though not mentioned above, in normal operation, the latch cannot be closed when the hammer is down (See 2) below). So the revolver should be on half cock or the safety/carry position when it is being closed and with proper operation and only five rounds loaded, the hammer would then be lowered on an empty cylinder.

 

1) With six loaded or with five and improperly indexed, the hammer could be lowered on a loaded chamber. And, if moved from the half cock or safety/carry to fully cocked and the hammer is forcefully lowered, e.g. trigger pulled, BANG!

 

2) The latch can be closed with the hammer down if enough force is used but it will most likely bend the bolt stop pin and cause indexing problems. (As mentioned in the User Manual)

 

As to the original question of purpose - I have no idea.

 

From the users manual:

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

 I can't check to see if it's just Your Smith & Wessons built Clone.

Because None of my Navy Arms or Cimarrons Clones ,

Have that ugly frame mounted firing pin design. 

 

I have several No.3 Pistols .

But the Navy Arms  American 44 Special is rare and my favorite of all of them.

 

I have No.3 Russian in 44r.  And a No.3 Russian  in 45 Schofield. 

And a No.3 Schofield in 45 Schofield .

 

I did decide to open up the chambers on the 44 Russian too 44  Special,  Just so I could shoot them both with the same load.

Edited August 3 by Rooster Ron Wayne
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[Timothy]

I didnt know navy arms made an american, very cool.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

10 hours ago, Rooster Ron Wayne said:

 I can't check to see if it's just Your Smith & Wessons built Clone.

Because None of my Navy Arms or Cimarrons Clones ,

Have that ugly frame mounted firing pin design. 

 

I have several No.3 Pistols .

But the Navy Arms  American 44 Special is rare and my favorite of all of them.

 

I have No.3 Russian in 44r.  And a No.3 Russian  in 45 Schofield. 

And a No.3 Schofield in 45 Schofield .

 

I did decide to open up the chambers on the 44 Russian too 44  Special,  Just so I could shoot them both with the same load.

Rooster, you KNOW I'm gonna have to respond to this...

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

2 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Rooster, you KNOW I'm gonna have to respond to this...

 

 

And now I will.

Here are my "Smith & Wessons."


You can tell which ones are real and which ones are copies real easy.   Guns made by Smith & Wesson are pointed to the right.  Guns pointed to the left are Italian copies.

 

Cimarron American.   .45 Colt.

Cimarron American .44 Special.

Uberti Schofield.  .45 Colt.  Navy Arms, by the way.

 

 

S&W Third Model Schofield.  .45 S&W.    Letter's to 2001.

 

This is a 1917 Scofield.  (Sorry.   I couldn't resist.)

 

 

New Model 3 .38-44 Target.  Letter's to 1887.

 

 

New Model 3  .44-40.  Letter's to 1897.

 

Model 3 DA.  .44-40  Letter's to 1891.

All are fun guns to shoot.

If you are wondering about it, until very recently, it was perfectly legal to import a "frame" into Massachusetts and use it to build your own firearm as long as you registered it with the state when you were done.  Sadly, that is one of the things that our governor outlawed, so it does not look like I'll be able to get any more new Italian copies of the old S&W designs.   I'd really like a Russian model, and if I can find one, a Beretta Laramie, both in .45 to match the rest of my copies.   I'd also like a long barreled American in .44 Special, but them's the breaks.

I also really wish Uberti would make a replica in .32-20, but I am not gonna hold my breath.  Couldn't get one if they did anyway.

Edited August 3 by H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619

[watab kid]

ive always thought these interesting , my one dabble was far less than satisfactory so ive gone way from them to traditional SAA , i stoill get a feeling of interest when yall post yours , conbgrats on some fine looking revolvers 

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

On 8/3/2025 at 3:38 PM, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

 

And now I will.

Here are my "Smith & Wessons."


You can tell which ones are real and which ones are copies real easy.   Guns made by Smith & Wesson are pointed to the right.  Guns pointed to the left are Italian copies.

 

Cimarron American.   .45 Colt.

Cimarron American .44 Special.

Uberti Schofield.  .45 Colt.  Navy Arms, by the way.

 

 

S&W Third Model Schofield.  .45 S&W.    Letter's to 2001.

 

This is a 1917 Scofield.  (Sorry.   I couldn't resist.)

 

 

New Model 3 .38-44 Target.  Letter's to 1887.

 

 

New Model 3  .44-40.  Letter's to 1897.

 

Model 3 DA.  .44-40  Letter's to 1891.

All are fun guns to shoot.

If you are wondering about it, until very recently, it was perfectly legal to import a "frame" into Massachusetts and use it to build your own firearm as long as you registered it with the state when you were done.  Sadly, that is one of the things that our governor outlawed, so it does not look like I'll be able to get any more new Italian copies of the old S&W designs.   I'd really like a Russian model, and if I can find one, a Beretta Laramie, both in .45 to match the rest of my copies.   I'd also like a long barreled American in .44 Special, but them's the breaks.

I also really wish Uberti would make a replica in .32-20, but I am not gonna hold my breath.  Couldn't get one if they did anyway.

Beautiful collection Pard lol .

Love it .