First Match with my New Model Number Three

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Yesterday I took my New Model Number Three to its first match. Boy howdy did I have a great time. It was a beautiful, warm spring day in Candia NH. Almost all the snow was gone. Only six stages yesterday, I shot the Smith and my 4 5/8" Colt.

Those 44 Russians are like a pop gun compared to my Colts. I was only shooting Schofields in the Colt, with about 28 grains of FFg and a 200 grain bullet, and only about 19.5 grains of FFg in the 44 Russians with a 200 grain Mav-Dutchman bullet. The report was so much quieter in the Smith that several shooters commented how much quieter it was. Recoil is very mild. Plenty of smoke though. No problem getting through six stages without any binding due to the gas collar design of the old Smith. I did have to remember that it shoots very high, even with the light loads. I had to remember to hold on the bottom of the targets. I did miss two pistol targets when I forgot to hold low. No way I'm going to add any metal to that front sight though, I'm not going to modify a thing.

Here are a few photos, courtesy of Wild Bill Blackerby.









I am one happy camper with my new pistol.

[Will Ketchum]

Yup, shooting those old Smiths is a hoot.  Now you know why I say they are the best balanced single action of the era.  I have a brace of them and wouldn't take $10,000 for the pair.  Mine have both been replated one in a period nickle and the other chrome (which I might get replated to match the others.



Will Ketchum

[Medicine Bear Charley]

Very nice!

[Irish Dave]

Bully!  Just bully!

[Will Ketchum]

Bully!  Just bully!

You keep that up and we will start calling you "English Dave"

Will Ketchum

[Durango Flinthart]

I think he sounds more like "Davy Roosevelt"

[Irish Dave]

Well..... what if I said "Bully, boy-o, Just bully."

Would that sound better?

[Montana Slim]

  Nice...Shooting them exactly as intended (BP Duelist)!

Slim

[panhead pete]

Driftwood,

That is one pretty sidearm, Sir!

PhP