Product Description
EARLY SERIAL NUMBER Antique SMITH & WESSON No. 1 ½ .32 Revolver WILD WEST
NUMBER 212 of 26,300 1st Issue Spur Trigger Revolvers
Here we present an antique Smith & Wesson First Issue Model Number 1-1/2 .32 Caliber Rimfire Revolver, made circa 1865-68 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The No. 1 was Smith & Wesson’s first metallic cartridge firearm. It utilized the idea of the “bored through cylinder”, which was patented by Rollin White and subsequently exclusively licensed by Smith & Wesson. This concept has forever changed revolving firearms design, and is the same idea used in revolvers today. S&W, via Rollin White himself, aggressively sued any patent infringers and were able to hold their monopoly on the American market for cartridge revolvers from about 1857 to 1870, whereupon their patent expired. The results were a very profitable business, a broke Rollin White, and a grudging U.S. Chief of Ordnance Alexander Dyer, who was still angry in 1870 about not being able to use the technology during the Civil War. The U.S. government ended up giving Colt their contracts since they valued the larger .44 caliber in the Colt 1860 Armies over the .32 caliber full sized No. 2 Armies.
The S&W Model No. 1-1/2 Revolver is simply a scaled-up version of the No. 1, down to the aesthetics. The .32 caliber continued to evolve just as the .22 caliber version, both in features and aesthetics. It was also a commercial success and was well-received by the buying public, seeing 26,300 of the First Issue produced and over 100,000 of the updated Second Issue.
The overall condition is fine. Original silver finish. The action is excellent. Semi-bright, rifled bore. Solid rosewood grips overall, contain light handling. Markings are legible. Here is a very nice S&W revolver from the glory days of the Old West!
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 3-1/2 inches.
Caliber: .32 Rimfire
Overall condition as seen in photos.
Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Delivered directly to your door by express mail!
Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.
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$1800
#233910