A Remington-Smoot New Model No. 3 revolver in .38 Rimfire Short, made circa 1878 to 1888, with a 3 3/4-inch octagonal barrel and no serial number. The bore is good, with light oxidation in the grooves and fine rifling. About 94 to 96 percent of the dull nickel finish remains, with scattered mottled flaking and surface oxidation. The hard rubber checkered grips are good, with a chip at the bottom of the right grip. The action indexes correctly and locks up tight.

This is an antique revolver for the collector rather than a working gun, and the listing gives the detail collectors look for: finish percentage, where the nickel has flaked, the grip chip and the state of the bore. New Jersey handles it under its handgun purchase rules, so the permit comes from your town's police chief or from the State Police where there is no full-time department. The tight lockup and correct indexing are the mechanical points worth noting.

Key features

• .38 Rimfire Short, 3 3/4-inch octagonal barrel
• Made circa 1878 to 1888, no serial number
• 94 to 96 percent dull nickel finish
• Hard rubber grips, chip on right grip
• Action indexes correctly, tight lockup

Like any handgun it ships to a New Jersey FFL dealer, where you present your permit, sign Form 4473 and clear the background check.