Hood International No. 3
Hood Firearms Company · Revolver · Discontinued · 1875
Also known as: Hood International No.3, International No. 3
Overview
The Hood International No. 3 is a small single-action 'Suicide Special' pocket revolver produced by the Hood Firearms Company of Norwich, Connecticut. Chambered in .32 rimfire, it has a solid frame, a spur trigger, and a fixed five-shot cylinder loaded one round at a time without an ejector. 'International' was one of the many catchy trade names Hood stamped on its inexpensive nickel-plated revolvers rather than the company's own name, a common marketing practice for these cheap pocket guns of the 1870s and 1880s.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 255 g (9.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 165 mm (6.50") |
| Barrel Length | 70 mm (2.76") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 210 m/s (689 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 119 J (88 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 14 m (15 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Nickel Plated |
Calibers
- .32 Short Rimfire · primary — also known as .32 Short, .32 RF Short, .32 RF
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Spur Trigger, Single Action, Solid Frame, Fixed Cylinder, Bird Head Grip, Fixed Sights
Production
Production years: 1875-1885
Exact production figures unknown; Hood-branded examples are scarce as most were sold under various trade names.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Freeman W. Hood
Discontinued: 1885
Notes
Marked 'HOOD FIREARMS CO. PATENT APRIL 6, 1875' on the barrel. Part of a numbered series of Hood trade-name revolvers offered in .22, .32, .38 and .41 rimfire with five- or seven-shot cylinders. No serial-number records were kept and few branded examples survive.
Background
Suicide Specials like the Hood International were the throwaway pocket pistols of Gilded Age America, sold cheaply through hardware catalogs and general stores. The term was coined by collector Duncan McConnell in a 1948 American Rifleman article, reflecting their reputation as poorly made, low-powered last-resort guns.