Photo - My Son Jesse James' Pistol (photo): NRA National Firearms Museum Featured Gun

http://www.nramuseum.org One-armed Zerelda Samuel had a hard time filling out a receipt. Yet to the delighted man who stood nearby, his long journey to meet this woman was just about to become worth the effort. After a pleasant afternoon spent with conversation and lemonade, he was going to make the purchase of a lifetime—buying a family heirloom of a boyhood hero. And it came with a receipt from his mother!




Exactly 100 years later, the staff at the National Firearms Museum opened a box recently arrived from Old Town Station in Lenexa, Kan. Wearing white gloves and in an environmentally secure and controlled room, they carefully unwrapped layers of bubble wrap that held a large frame revolver. Accompanying the gun was a small yellowed receipt that read: Received $39.00 from Mr. C.B. Parsons of Lexington, Kentucky for my son Jesses pistol, Smith & West #1984 size .44. Signed, Zerelda Samuel, James Farm, Kearney, Missouri.




In the world of firearms collecting, few guns have associated excellent provenance—provenance being a clear and provable chain of custody from the original owner to the present. Jesses mother, Zee Samuel, lived another 30 years after Jesses death, selling his guns, and even pebbles from his grave, almost until the day she died. But having this receipt and the gun together brings one that much closer to the widow Samuels pistol—a Smith & Wesson .44 revolver she asserted belonged to her son, the infamous outlaw Jesse James.




Now on display, the new exhibit Guns West! opens the doors to the historical West, the legendary frontier, and the American West as viewed in cinema and sport. Guns of famous lawmen and outlaws, TV and movie stars and cowboy action heroes all share billing in one of the largest exhibitions of arms at the National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va.
http://www.nranews.com/#/nationalfirearmsmuseum/VideoModule/FG%20My%20Son%20J...

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Firearm
• Firearms
• Museum
• Museums
• Gun
• Guns
• National
• NRA
• Rifle
• Association
• Zerelda
• Samuel
• Jesse
• James
• C.B.
• Parsons
• Farm
• Zee
• Smith
• Wesson
• .44
• Revolver
• West

[Primus1985]

Now thats the gun of a legend right there! I knew there was a reason I liked Schofields over any other revolver :)

Only thing, I want a set of two to fire two-handed, for show and competition and such. So I'd try to find someone that can turn it from a single action to a double action, so I dont hav eto keep slamming back the hammer. Unfortuitly it'll take quite a chuknk of cash but then again perfection isnt cheap :D

[NFMCurator]

@Primus1985 The gun pictured is a New Model Number Three, not exactly a Schofield, but both built on the Model 3 frame. S&W also made a double action Model 3 (named, oddly enough, the .44 Double Action). It tends to be the least expensive of the Model 3 family, which includes, Americans, Russians, Schofields, New Model #3's, and .44 DA's (along with subvariations thereof). -- Jim

[Primus1985]

@NFMCurator What would be the difference be between a .44 double action and a Schofield? (Besides the ammo type) Is the ejection latch on the side like a Schofield or on the top?

[NFMCurator]

@Primus1985 Both are large frame top-breaks (i.e., "Model 3's"). Schofield is single action, latch mounted on frame, smooth backstrap with no knuckle, square butt. .44 DA is double action, latch mounted on barrel, mild knuckle on backstrap, round butt. You can find photos of both at the NRA Museum website.  Start in the Old West gallery. -- Jim Supica

[almightywitey]

...also, didn't the barrel latch's come "blued" on a nickel example?.

[NFMCurator]

@almightywitey This gun has indeed been renickeled. Originally on this model, the latch and triggerguard were blue, with the hammer and trigger color case hardened. -- Jim Supica

[almightywitey]

mine too has a heavy trigger pull. 19k ser. range. it's not a target model but a 'holster' gun w/ the stand. sights. i only rarely dry fire it as it's ex. plus cond. ....the example pictured appears to have nickeled trigger guard & hammer. did early examples come that way, or was this gun likely re-nickeled at some point in it's life? i've seen others (in photos) that appear to be entirely nickeled. i was under the impression they came w/ case colored hammer and trigger guard from the fac. 

[pecospest]

The trigger pull on mine ( s.n. in the 35000 range - long cylinder - 5"bbl. - original pearl grips - 44 SWR- fixed sights )  was rather stiffish until i lightened the trigger return spring .

Now it is silk smooth .

In order to hit point of aim i have to use very light bullets.

Incredibly precise .

[Ultona]

Great video. Looks refinished judging by the softened edges and if the hammer and latch are both nickeled, which they appear to be (originally Smith never nickeled those parts). Seems the #3 Single Actions and DA 44's often suffer refinishing, but at least people didn't swap out barrels and cylinders like on the Colt SAA's.

[NFMCurator]

It has an excellent crisp trigger pull, not heavy at all. The S&W New Model #3 was the predominent target revolver of its era. -- Jim Supica