Welcome to at present’s Photo of the Day! Right here’s one thing that tells the true story behind these Wild West present theatrics – certainly one of Annie Oakley’s private smoothbore Smith & Wesson New Mannequin No. 3 revolvers, shipped on to “A. Oakley” on June 14, 1895. Whereas most people bear in mind her because the sharpshooting star of Buffalo Invoice’s Wild West Present, this gun reveals the sensible facet of placing on a protected efficiency.
The manufacturing unit letter tells us every part we have to find out about why this revolver exists. Smith & Wesson configured it with a 6½-inch smoothbore barrel, German silver bead entrance sight, and adjustable rear sight with a large “U” notch – excellent for throwing shot patterns quite than single bullets. By 1895, Oakley was already world well-known, having wowed European royalty and earned Sitting Bull’s legendary nickname “Little Miss Certain Shot.”
The smoothbore setup wasn’t about making the photographs simpler – it was about preserving everybody alive. Exhibition shooters discovered the onerous approach that strong bullets had a nasty behavior of touring a lot farther than supposed. Buffalo Invoice himself obtained a brutal lesson in 1883 when he needed to pay for greenhouse injury a block and a half away from his Brooklyn efficiency. Small shot hundreds misplaced power quick, making indoor performances and crowd security manageable.
This revolver isn’t simply concerning the Annie Oakley provenance – it represents the evolution of exhibition capturing. These legendary feats we examine weren’t parlor methods with clean cartridges. Oakley was placing actual projectiles on track, simply good sufficient to make use of shot as a substitute of strong bullets when performing for paying prospects.
Most of our POTDs make the most of photos from our associates at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms public sale in the USA. Take a while to browse their current auctions – who is aware of, possibly you’ll discover a piece of historical past to take residence!
“A. Oakley Smoothbore Smith & Wesson New Mannequin No. 3 Revolver.” Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/4095/82/a-oakley-smoothbore-smith-wesson-new-model-no-3-revolver. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
Trending Merchandise
MEREZA Double Sleeping Bag for Adults Mens wi...
Emergency Glow Sticks with 12 Hours Duration,...
MOXILS Sleeping Pad, Ultralight Inflatable Sl...
