Smith & Wesson Model 3 .45 Schofield 3:10 to Yuma

Smith & Wesson Model 3 .45 Schofield similar to the one used by the actor Ben Foster, who played Charlie Prince in the movie 3:10 to Yuma.This version was made by Smith & Wesson in 2000. Their patent # was issued in 1873. You may have also seen Schofield pistols in the movie "Unforgiven". The Schofield Model 3 is a .45 caliber, single-action, break-top revolver originally produced from 1875 until 1878. During that time, approximately 9,000 of the handguns were produced. The revolver's cylinder held six cartridges, and the break-top action allowed easier access to the cylinder for faster reloading. The weapon was produced mostly for the use of the American and Russian militaries, among others, and was manufactured as many knock-off variants throughout the world.HistoryThe revolver took its name from Major George W. Schofield of the 10th Cavalry. About 1870 he wrote to Smith & Wesson requesting one of their then-new "Model No. 3" revolvers, hoping it would prove useful in combat. Schofield made his own modifications to the Model No. 3 to meet his perceptions of the Cavalry's needs, and in 1875 Smith & Wesson incorporated these refinements into a design they named after the Major, planning to obtain significant military contracts for the new revolver.When the US Army purchased the new No. 3 .44 in 1870, they were the first cartridge revolvers used as standard issue sidearms. Up until that time, most pistols relied on the black powder cap-and-ball system which was, by comparison, slow, complicated, and susceptible to the effects of wet weather. In 1875 the Ordnance Board granted Smith & Wesson a contract to outfit the military with Schofield pistols, providing they could make the revolvers work with the .45 Colt (AKA ".45 Long Colt") ammunition already in use. Smith & Wesson instead developed their own, slightly shorter .45 caliber round, the .45 Schofield, otherwise known as the .45 S&W. When it became obvious in the field that the two cartridges would not work interchangeably in the Schofield, although they both worked in the Colt the U.S. Government adopted the shorter version as the standard cartridge. Despite the change old stocks of the longer rounds in the supply line caused the Army to drop most of the Schofields and continued with the Colt. Major Schofield had patented his locking system and earned a payment on each gun that Smith and Wesson sold. At the time his older brother, John M. Schofield, was the head of the Army Ordnance Board and the political situation may have been the main issue for the early end of army sales.Many of these saw service in the Indian Wars, and there are reports of them in use as late as the Spanish American War and Philippine Insurrection. Like the other Smith and Wesson Model 3's, they were also reportedly popular with lawmen and outlaws in the American West, and were reportedly used by Jesse James, John Wesley Hardin, Pat Garrett, Theodore Roosevelt, Virgil Earp, Billy the Kid, and many others. While the standard barrel length was 7", many Schofields were purchased as surplus by distributors, had the barrels shortened to 5", and were refinished in nickel.

Channel: Entertainment
Uploaded: December 31, 1969 at 6:59 pm
Author: Jayson1464

Length: 01:56
Rating: 4.67
Views: 11614

Tags: .45  3:10  Charlie  gun  guns  Model  old  Prince  revolver  Schofield  Smith  to  Wesson  west  Yuma  

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