In 1869 Smith and Wesson introuduced their first top break revolver which is known as the no. 3 American. It was a succesful design with major advantages over Colt's Cap and Ball revolvers. The Russians placed orders for the gun but the American army instead choose the Colt 1873 revolver. In 1875 George Schofield an American officer showed Smith and Wesson his ideas for a new revolver.