The earliest S&W top breaks are collectively known as Model 3 .44 Americans, and are generally accepted as having been made from 1870-1874. They had various barrel lengths, usually ribbed, were blued or nickel, and available in .44 American or .44 Rimfire Henry. The governmanet bought one contract order of these. This gun was modified for use by the Russian army, a fairly large order at the time, including going to a straight, ie, not stepped like the .44 American, bullet of .429" caliber - in 1871 - and known as the .44 Russian, forbearer of the .44 Special & .44 Magnum (It preceded the .45 Colt by nearly two years!). Variants in the shortened .45 Colt round, known as the .45 Schofield or .45 S&W, did not appear until 1875+. Interestingly, according to Roy Jinks, historian of S&W - with access to the original order records - S&W would make more of those top-breaks in the 1870's than Colt would make of the SAA's until into the next century!
The Model 3 could be loaded, fired, reloaded much faster than the SAA, making it a favorite of many of the bad guys - like the James Gang - and several of the OK Coral lawmen, as well. The .44 Russian's nominal 246gr bullet sat atop 26 gr of fff bp, as opposed to the .45 Colt's 250gr over 40gr fff. The lethality of both for torso shots was nearly the same, however... recall that ER's weren't available then.
If the movie takes place in 1869, a period of time where cartridge conversions of existing cap and ball stock would be an armorer's mainstay after the American Civil War, an S&W top break of anything but a .44 American would have been a real dream. Of course, artistic license was/is commonplace in Hollywood western movies - John Wayne's favorite 1892 Winchester having been seen in numerous earlier period movies, for example.
The Italian #3 clones, the Russian and Schofield guns alike, are reportedly nicely made. They look and feel robust, from my experience, if a bit more dear than I can afford. The proper chambering of .44 Russian and .45 S&W or .45 Schofield will make ammo 'fun' to find, unless you make them yourself. I made 500 .44 Russians in preparation for a new Uberti #3 purchase, only to buy the then $170 cheaper new 629MG. They are neat little rounds, easily digested by any .44 Special or Magnum chambered gun. Similarly, the hundred or so .45 Schofields I made, as in the late 1870's, have been part of my .45 Colt revolver collection's fodder. At least the clone #3 Schofields are now offered in .45 Colt, a period incorrect but, thankfully, easier found round.
Stainz
