The 1875 No. 3 top break revolvers were originally designed by U.S. Army Major George Schofield as a cavalry pistol. The top-break design could be operated single handedly, ejecting all the spent cartridges and was easy to reload on horseback. The Russian government saw the potential of these top-break pistols and ordered 41000.

Uberti has recreated these pistols in their line of 1873 No. 3 Top Breaks. These pistols are chambered in the .45 Long Colt cartridge and are single action.