Manufactured from 1870 to 1915 by Smith & Wesson, the Model 3 or No. 3 revolver, was initially considered an upgrade from the typical revolvers at the time, mainly due to its top-break reloading mechanism, which allowed the user to unload spent cartridges and reload it in around 26 seconds. Adopted by the US Army in 1870, the Model 3 was the first standard issue, cartridge-firing revolver in US Service. The variant introduced in 1875, known as the “Schofield Revolver”, gets its name from Maj. George W. Schofield, who is credited with designing improvements to the locking mechanism of the revolver, making it easier for mounted troops to use. The Model 3 is perhaps most famous for being used by Wyatt Earp, in the OK Corral gunfight with the Clanton gang. Jesse James is also known to have had one, and was later shot and killed with a Model 3.