The Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian contract revolver

This video is covering the history of the Smith & Wesson Model 3 Russian contract revolver while I also try it at the range from 25-75m distances. The Uberti repro I am using is chambered for the 45LC cartridge. Lay back, enjoy!
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[@bernardrednix756]

the most underrated old west revolver

[@skepticalbadger]

Is it? The Schofield variant is second only to the Single Action Army for fame.

[@GreenMosin93]

I think the Merwin-Hulbert is the most underrated. It's very rare tho

[@crom60]

Superbe vidéo.

[@NoTimeAllTime]

The Smith and Wesson Model 3 is one of my favorite guns, not only from a design and ascetic element but personally as well. My grandfather had two, one that was a personal sidearm of a great great uncle who took it to the Spanish American War (he wasn't a fan of the colt he was issued) and the other was a later model. I love hearing about the Russian variant as well as the history of the gun and I appreciate seeing the rounds loaded as well, that was very informative!

[@CzechoslovakGunStories]

Love your videos! They are my most favourite thing from Hungary maybe except for Goulash which we Czechs are grateful for as well! Thanks for great content!

[@capandball]

We will get together well. Being a great fan of Czech beer! Just sitting here and reading your post with a can of Pilsner in my hand. :)

[@jakeroberts7435]

Greetings to Hungary, the land of fine wine and buitiful women. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the support your great country has given the survivors of Lahaina on the island of Maui. We shall always honor your friendship

[@davidinghram2494]

Probably the most elegant handgun design ever.

[@anthonyhayes1267]

It's up there for me, but I'd rank a few Webley designs above it

[@bobconnor1210]

That Russian round, revered for its accuracy, evolved into the .44 S&W Special and then eventually into the .44 Remington Magnum. The.44 Russian is easily made by cutting down mouth-split Special or Magnum cases and loading with a light .430” lead bullet using Lyman data. Fun and cheap to shoot.

[@RedXlV]

If I'd been a Russian officer in 1895, I wouldn't have wanted to give up my S&W for a Nagant. Just because of the much faster reload that's possible with a top-break instead of a loading gate.

[@sigurdsigurdson9515]

Совершенно с вами согласен. Наган это шаг назад в скорости перезарядки ,но более дешёвый и технологичный из за равного калибра ствола у нагана и винтовки Мосина + более лёгкий и компактный .На месте русского офицера в 1914 я предпочел бы браунинг м1900

[@davidfranklin1885]

What an absolutely gorgeous revolver!, and a historical, delightful description and delivery. FOUR STARS! FMR Intelligence Officer

[@kazimierzspaczynski7401]

Thank You Sir.

[@yyctypewriter]

I’ve been using two of these for CAS for 18 years now. They have been solid and reliable and I’ve never had any issues with them. They’re solid and great for reloads on the timer, or bonus targets.

[@eduardohermoso150]

A vast amount of knowledge of firearms history and a pleasant voice makes this gentleman a fine example of what firearms vlogs should be. Well done Sir !!

[@gregajohnson1985]

your cartridge building montage needs to be an ASMR video of it's own. so good.

[@Bayan1905]

A few years back I got an Uberti Schofield revolver with the 5 inch barrel in .45 Colt. In all the years of various single action revolvers, that gun is far and away the nicest and most accurate single action revolver I've ever owned. I love the Smith & Wesson break open revolvers. I have a Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless in .38 S & W that's very pleasant and accurate to shoot.

[@Mis-AdventureCH]

Anyone in the states with an Uberti Schofield, TK Custom in Illinois will mill the cylinder to accept .45 acp in moon clips. It will also still take .45 colt. $200 bucks and shipping. I did mine and it works great. Be sure to get the Schofield specific moon clips as they're slightly narrower in circumference than regular ones.

[@redacted_redacted_redacted]

Will the extractor still throw all the rounds out with with them clipped together? I've been curious about that.

[@Mis-AdventureCH]

@@redacted_redacted_redacted Yes, tosses them out the same as a shaved Webley. The casings are way shorter so they clear just fine. I can't find it, but a guy did a IPSC course of fire with a shaved Webley running moon clips and that's what sold me on all of it.

[@dangvorbei5304]

Your poor gong. It finally gave up.😂 I'm so glad someone offers a reproduction of these magnificent revolvers. It's quite a weapon. Maybe one day you'll tell us about the Bowie knife on your rig?

[@redacted_redacted_redacted]

I shot one of these in an ICORE match a few months ago. I found that the trigger guard spur was really useful in giving my weak hand a place to sit. I locked my middle finger in it and thumbed the hammer from there. It ended up being a lot of fun and going a lot better than expected. Side note: how many rounds of black powder could you get through yours before the fouling locked it up?

[@capandball]

I fired 2x50 in two days without cleaning. It did not lock up at all.

[@TMSGG724]

Beautiful review, as always, enjoyed watching!

[@Real11BangBang]

My favorite!

[@marcusott2973]

Much awaited, much appreciated looking forward to excellent insights as always from you.

[@michaelrains64295]

Great video as always. Beautiful robust revolver.

[@vexorg67]

I'm glad that at least some Europeans can enjoy shooting. Love your channel. I'm off to the range this weekend. Cheers!

[@dianecullum1281]

(Mike Cullum) I wanted a black powder cartridge pistol and researched them pretty thoroughly before I purchased one. I have big hands and the 1873 Colt as well as the 1875 Remington left no room for my little finger on the grip. I picked up a Schofield replica in a local gun shop and it fit my hands perfectly (plenty of grip). Watched as many videos as I could find on the various #3 versions currently being produced by Uberti. I decided on the Russian in 44 Russian caliber (it is stamped 44 Russian but is actually chambered for 44 Special). I did not want any version of the #3 in 45 Colt! In several shooting videos 45 colt cartridges would sometimes slip under the ejector star and jam the gun up pretty bad. The rim on the 45 Colt is very small (was never designed for rim extraction). If I would not have finally found the Russian model I bought, my second choice would have been a Schofield in 44-40 because of the generous rim on that cartridge. Additionally I like the lift up latch on the Russian better than the pull latch on the Schofield. I've read that some folks have experienced inadvertent unlatching while holstering a Schofield model. This video on the Russian #3 was very well done. Thanks!

[@whisper8742]

Another block of history filled! Thanks~

[@marcogianfranco4918]

Forgotten Weapons would make a great Collab with capandball, I would definitely watch a video if its not out already. extremely nice attention to both detail in design and history.

[@blackhawk65589]

Duelist1954 has a really good video on this as well

[@Keef19661]

Спасибо за прекрасное, интересное видео об одной из лучших моделей револьверов. Кстати, в России сняли фильм "Медведь", где этот револьвер играет одну из главных ролей

[@LarryDeSilva64]

what an amazing looking revolver. Uberti really made a nice looking reproduction of that S&W model 3 Russian. May have to get me one of them for my black powder revolver collection. Thanks for another informative and fun video.

[@drews4685]

Excellent video and information as always 👍

[@giovannicervantes2053]

Funnily enough i first saw a version of this revolver in metro exodus in that game it was an amalgam of a nagant revolver and the no.3 mostly in the fact that it shared the gas seal system for suppressors and a swing out cylinder instead of a break action

[@carlbissonnette4227]

Thank you for that beautiful video for my birthday

[@louisvalois3863]

"beatiful hunglish language" :)

[@capandball]

;)

[@jordiparis6250]

A very interesting video, congratulations!

[@niclbicl]

Very nice much awaited video really a informationful and nice video and interesting that Uberti made a repro didn't know!

[@antjeeismann4684]

This was a very informative and relaxing Video, greetings from Germany.

[@duaneho555]

What a beautiful gun. Thanks for the video.

[@pablogonzalezalonso885]

-Es el revólver más bonito de todos los de aquellos tiempos. Hermoso de verdad.

[@blackpowder-bulgaria]

Looks comfortable in the hand.

[@barkeater9606]

Very Nice! 45 Colt was an interesting choice. The 44 Special would be a good choice also. With 44 Special chambering, you can also fire the 44 Russian. This pistol was popular in the USA as a competition pistol until the Great Depression. It was Major Schofield that came up with the break open design. It allowed a calvary man to reload at a full gallup on a horse. The 45 Schofield was shorter than the 45 Colt. The 45 Schofield can be fired out of a 1873 Colt, but not vice versa. I will buy one of these pistols, it will make a good companion to my 1894AE Winchester in 45 Colt that I bought new in 1999. 👍

[@badgerrrlattin35]

I too found it surprising that this was chambered in 45LC. This will lead to problems with the ejection of spent brass. The modest .45LC rims being the problem. Course, one could fall back on using Schofield brass.

[@hailexiao2770]

@@badgerrrlattin35 Modern .45 Colt has pretty beefy rims. If S&W Model 25s and Ruger Redhawks don't have any problems ejecting spent cases I don't see why a Model 3 would have any problems doing the same.

[@jl8543]

Very nice..Sir . always good presentation 👍👍

[@jason60chev]

Just purchased one of these in 44 Russian, for which I am setup to hand load.

[@BR549-2]

Great video!

[@jonathansongco4302]

Awesome!

[@bushcraft_in_the_north]

I have a original S&W Russian. The mecanism is 100% tight so is the lock upp and no side wiggle, the barrel and chambers shines like a mirror. It is not black anymore, but gray. But still in great shape.

[@TheLord0Ice0Wind]

That's a beautiful revolver

[@robertl6196]

I never knew about the second locking notch on the hammer. Clever.

[@varanid9]

Noice! I just recently picked up an Uberti replica of the S&W New Model #3 with case hardened frame and charcoal blue on barrel and cylinder. It was a limited edition sold by - I believe - Taylors and Company a few years back. Beautiful revolver but I can't find any New Model replicas on their website, nor on Dixie Gun Works, just the Russian and the Schofield.. Years ago I used to have an original nickel-plated Russian model and the Uberti Russian replica. Love these top-breaks.

[@darthmartinez]

I have a Cimarron imported Schofield in 38 special that is a lot of fun to shoot. Model 27 speed loaders will work too.

[@hillbillyscholar8126]

I suspect that you may get better accuracy using a softer alloy with black powder. Thanks for sharing!

[@chetan.gondaliya]

Awesome video Bro. Love from India...🙏❤👍🤗

[@glockerbob]

Man I dig the old break tops!!!!

[@steveconquest6684]

A superb video and a beautiful revolver. I still prefer the lockup on the Schofield though.

[@shootingwithmitch5921]

Aesthetically the best looking revolver, In my opinion :-)

[@EricDaMAJ]

The Russians practically single handedly kept Smith & Wesson afloat buying this revolver. Cossacks loved it and it stayed in service way into WW I. Like the cowboys of yore I’m no fan of that middle finger hook under the Russian trigger guard. Nor do I care for the S&W’s balance compared to the Colt SAA. But I still love my Uberti Schofield “Wells Fargo” clone. According to Uberti it can fire all standard smokeless powder factory .45LC. Unloading it is nearly as fun as shooting it!

[@clangerbasher]

It is one of those revolvers I wish I could own here.

[@gab340]

really nice.

[@user-fx7zb6ck5h]

Ух ты)

[@werre2]

I installed reloading press on top of two thick planks that I bolted to the table. No more bending.

[@capandball]

Yes, I'll have to reinforce my table.

[@mortimersnerd8044]

Excellent video and pistol, a minor correction though. Rollin White tried to sell his patent to S&W, but they wisely declined and instead paid him a generous royalty on each pistol they made. This left White with all the responsibility (and expense) for defending the patent in court, which he did continuously for its duration.

[@capandball]

Many thanks for the correction!

[@RedXlV]

It should also be remembered that Rollin White's overly-broad patent should have been invalidated, since Casimir Lefaucheux had already patented his pinfire breech-loading revolver in France a year earlier. But for some reason, despite Lefaucheux revolvers being imported to America in decent numbers, it doesn't seem to have occurred to any American revolver manufacturers to bring this up in court and prove White had patented something that was already invented by somebody else.

[@benbateman2085]

One of my favorite old west guns.

[@user-hd1dm7hr3f]

Masterpiece ❤

[@texas66]

If you ever visit Texas, be sure to allow for some range time. With a little advanced notice I'm sure guns, ammo and range fees can be provided. Not everyone in Texas has black powder firearms but I'm sure there are plenty of early smokeless powder arms to try!

[@capandball]

I would love to!

[@ShortLandPattern]

this channel gives :) energy

[@reivercaptain510]

I really want to buy one of these for my father. He loves the Mo. 3

[@davidtaylor8822]

That's a beautifully-made gun. What a shame we can never own that in the UK!

[@davidtaylor8822]

@@michaelhrivnak1719 I know, it is sad. I regret the UK's gun laws, but I don't disapprove of them (I can't own that S&W but I can own a cap & ball revolver). Unfortunately, a minority of any country's citizenry cannot be trusted. That's why the US has had more than 400 mass shootings already this year.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

Ooo, I want one!

[@Horex-or5rt]

I have an open top Richard Mason that I load with Trailboss powder. Works better for me than black powder, isn't historically correct, but hits perfect.

[@RandallWeeks]

Respectfully mentioning they also had a 200gr load meant for lightweight hunting. (Jackrabbit in the west side of the US can be almost as big as some dogs) On the civilian market that cartridge came in a variety.

[@657449]

30+ years ago I was looking for one just as a shooter. My desire was killed by an article in a gun magazine. There was a photo of 16 pistols in the original wrapping paper and wooden box in someone’s collection. I figure that the guns were ordered by a period general store and forgotten about. Probably during the depression, the assets of the business were sold and the forgotten box of guns found.

[@Lardbeane]

It's crazy how still you are when shooting, sometimes I un pause the video when you're aiming and I have to double check that I actually un paused it.

[@capandball]

23 years of competition shooting. But you should see how my body moved when I was firing the last shot last year on the World Champs. :D I was never so happy about a 9 ring shot. :D :D

[@ZacharyBurgard]

I have a couple boxes of original Russian no.3 revolver ammunition

[@capandball]

Wow!

[@job38four10]

Do you have a video shooting a { 1862 Freeman's Patent Revolver}?

[@tyffontyffon1652]

Suberbe ,j'ai un 44 russian original de 1875 N° 3 mais il est avec le modele "target" sur la mir , le guidon est different . bien à vous.

[@johanneshierl9996]

Nice Video. I am Interested in match flintlock Pistols. Is it posible to make a Video about that?

[@ronaldomello4463]

Muito linda.

[@rainbow2710]

I have an original Ludwig Loewe Russian contract revolver in 44 Russian. Pretty well preserved. I might actually get to shoot it one day.

[@dangvorbei5304]

I bet those were nice revolvers when new. Ludwig & Loewe knew how to put a gun together to a standard that would put Cabot to shame.

[@capandball]

That's a nice find!

[@oolooo]

The superior Model 3 and peak of the Top Break .

[@CameronMcCreary]

The modern replica will easily take smokeless loads. I had a Civil War era S&W Model 2 in .32 long rimfire and I would fire it now and then and I always shot CIL Canuck smokeless cartridges in .32 long rimfire.

[@r.awilliams9815]

I hope they release it in .44 Special.

[@capandball]

it is available in 44 Spec

[@paulharding1621]

Absolutely beautiful revolver. That target is dead.

[@tinymud3324]

Fantastic revolver but rather then 45LC could have been in 357 mag with a 9mm collar ;o)

[@tmsaskg]

At 17:09 shot, two hot particle fell upward then down from the gun. Was ot exiting from the back of the chamber?

[@r.awilliams9815]

From the barrel/cylinder gap, I suspect.

[@capandball]

yes @@r.awilliams9815

[@flintandball6093]

Are you still planning on running blackpowder hunts in Hungary? I'd be interested.

[@capandball]

I am not a PH, but I can help you. If you come in October or December, you can also participate on our BP driven hunts.

[@johnmcdonald587]

Did you have any fouling issues binding up the cylinder?

[@elberttanner6189]

How is windage adjusted on this revolver?

[@454FatJack]

1895 Nagant 7,62mm

[@MeshFrequency]

13:34 "3rd Russian weapon factory A. Uberti, Italy"

[@borkwoof696]

Are the stadiametric rangefinders in stock again?

[@capandball]

Yes, please send an order to [e-mail]

[@JohnCBobcat]

I'd love to own a Model 3 repro in .44 Special, though I can somewhat understand why they aren't manufactured as such. Still, I think that's a shame and a bit of a missed opportunity for a little bit more historical accuracy. (Pun intended!)

[@finlayfraser9952]

Some contributors say that loose powder in a cartridge is not a problem!! We need an answer.

[@chrisgabbert658]

👍😊

[@nickdavis5420]

Ah the patent that should never have been granted the bore through cylinder.

[@jimbobhk2009]

How did you get these Russian Great War weapons?

[@solinvictus39]

These are great looking revolvers and I'd love to have one, but I think they're a bit overpriced. Last I checked they were in the $1200. range. You could buy a nice AR carbine or AK for that money and have a couple hundred dollars left over to spare.

[@mr.e.2175]

I think you need more powder and that load would be good..

[@capandball]

I tried to keep a close equivalent of the original load. But you can surely add a full case of BP.

[@antiquelover007]

I have an original 1874 S&W Russian Model 3, ( Russian contract) . I'm looking for an enthusiastic collector who can preserve and make use of this great piece of History. Please do let me know if anyone is interested in buying it.

[@MrFiliCZ]

Why are u only loading 5 rounds and not six? Is it because there is a problem with one of the cylinder chambers? Thank you for answer

[@skepticalbadger]

Safety. Hammer down on an empty chamber is the accepted modern practice. It's pointless if you're immediately going to shoot like this, but a lot of people still do it. Maybe even his range rules require it, I don't know.

[@capandball]

@@skepticalbadger that's how we load it for Cowboy Action Shooting. I am used to it.

[@RedXlV]

@@capandball Makes perfect sense. Practice the same way you're going to use it in competition.

[@petrvodkin5824]

What country are you from?

[@matthewj.minisi6213]

I have heard that the reproductions are notoriously unreliable with real black powder, the action practically seizing up after shooting a cylinder or two. Have you figured out a way around this or are you just cleaning frequently?

[@PenDragonsPig]

Everybody forgets Norwich.

[@keithplymale2374]

Always wanted one of these since the 1990's but the reproductions have always just out of reach financially.

[@Tammy-un3ql]

🤣🤣👌👌

[@davegray3049]

Add another thing man you're very wrong about that Russia was not the first to shoot metal cartridges the first to shoot metal cartridges was France they are indeed the last to shoot black powder because the smokeless powder was too expensive for Rush to afford nor did they have access to it because their lack of friendly relations with many countries