S&W Schofield
Smith & Wesson · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1875
Also known as: Schofield Revolver, Smith & Wesson Schofield, S&W No. 3 Schofield, Model 3 Schofield
Overview
The S&W Schofield is a top-break, single-action revolver developed for the U.S. cavalry during the cartridge era of the American Old West. Major George W. Schofield reworked the basic Smith & Wesson Model 3 with a frame-mounted barrel latch that a trooper could release with the thumb of the firing hand, allowing a mounted soldier to open the action, eject all six spent cases at once, and reload one-handed on horseback. The U.S. Army adopted it in 1875 chambered for the .45 S&W (Schofield) cartridge, a shorter, fatter round than the .45 Colt.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1135 g (40.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 318 mm (12.52") |
| Barrel Length | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Action Type | Single Action Revolver |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Rotary |
| Muzzle Velocity | 244 m/s (801 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 444 J (327 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .45 Schofield · primary — also known as .45 S&W, .45 Smith & Wesson
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Top Break Action, Automatic Simultaneous Ejection, Frame Mounted Latch, Six Shot Cylinder, Fixed Sights
Variants
- S&W Schofield First Model — Early Model
- S&W Schofield Second Model — Improved Model
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1875 · as Schofield
Conflicts
- American Indian Wars (1875-1890)
Production
Estimated total produced: 8,969 · Production years: 1875-1878
Roughly 8,969 Schofield-pattern revolvers were produced across the First and Second Models before the Army contract ended
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: George W. Schofield
Discontinued: 1878
Notes
The shorter .45 Schofield cartridge would chamber and fire in the Colt Single Action Army, but the longer .45 Colt would not fit the Schofield's cylinder, causing ammunition supply problems that contributed to the Army surplusing the revolvers.
Background
Surplus Schofields were bought up and barrel-shortened by distributors such as Wells Fargo, and Old West figures including Jesse James and Frank James are reported to have favored the top-break design for the speed of its simultaneous ejection.