Make: Smith & Wesson

Model: Model 3, Second Model Schofield

Serial Number: 5023

Year of Manufacture: 1876

Caliber: .45 Schofield

Action Type: Single Action, Top-Break Revolver

Markings: The left side of the barrel lug is marked “SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD MASS. U.S.A. PAT. JAN. 17TH & 24TH 65. JULY 11TH 65. AUG. 24TH 69. JULY 25TH 71”. The right side of the barrel lug is marked “SCHOFIELD’S PAT. APR. 22D 1873”. The butt is marked “US” on the toe and “5023” across the center. The rear face of the cylinder is also numbered “5023” with a small “W” beneath. The latch assembly is mismatched and marked “383”. The topstrap is stamped with a military inspection “P”. The underside of the barrel bears additional ordnance inspection marks “E” and “p”. The right grip panel is cartouched “CW” for Charles Woodman, U.S. Ordnance inspector, while the left panel is marked “1876” with a faint cartouche, possibly “JRjr”. Both grip panels are internally serialized to the frame.

Barrel Length: 7”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a replacement Patridge blade marked “PACIFIC”, pinned to the barrel. The rear sight is a shallow “U” notch with a fine “V” at its base, integral to the barrel latch.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are original smooth walnut. The left panel shows a full-length internal crack and general wear. The right panel is intact with clear “CW” cartouche. Both grips are properly serialized to the gun. They rate in about Fair condition overall.

Type of Finish: Originally blued, now exhibiting gray patina with areas in the white and moderate pitting.

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with well-defined rifling and areas of dark pitting and erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 30% of its original blue finish. The frame shows some remaining blue in protected areas, while the cylinder and barrel have mostly turned to gray patina. There is scattered pitting and oxidation consistent with age and service use. Markings remain legible. The screw heads show wear, and the front sight screw is a replacement. Overall, this revolver rates in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The action is tight and fully functional. Timing is correct, and the cylinder locks securely. The break-top mechanism functions properly with strong ejection. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements. This revolver is over 150 years old and was designed for black powder .45 Schofield cartridges.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver includes a factory letter from Smith & Wesson Historian Roy G. Jinks, dated July 3, 2006. The letter confirms that serial number 5023 was shipped from the factory on October 12, 1876, to the United States Government, National Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts. The revolver was delivered with a 7" barrel, blue finish, and smooth walnut grips—matching the configuration still present today.

Our Assessment: This is a genuine U.S. Army-issue Smith & Wesson Model 3 Schofield Second Model, one of only 5,285 delivered under government contract during the Indian Wars era. Shipped in 1876—America’s centennial year and a pivotal point in western expansion—this revolver likely saw service on the frontier, possibly in the saddle of a cavalry trooper or state militia soldier.

Top-break and faster to reload than Colt’s Single Action Army, the Schofield gained a loyal following in the ranks despite limited issue. This example shows the right wear for a military veteran, with clear martial markings, matching frame/cylinder/grips, and the unmistakable inspector cartouche of Charles Woodman, a known ordnance official of the period.

The revolver’s post-service legacy extended into the 20th century and beyond. Clint Eastwood famously used a Schofield in Unforgiven, and it has appeared in countless films such as The Missing, True Grit, and The Long Riders. With its elegant break-open design and commanding profile, the Schofield remains one of the most cinematic and mechanically advanced revolvers of the frontier age.

Backed by a factory letter, historical markings, and American cavalry lineage, this revolver is a prize for any collector of U.S. military arms, Old West history, or film-worn legends of the silver screen.