Original Item: Only One Available. The Smith & Wesson Model 1 was the first firearm manufactured by Smith & Wesson, with production spanning the years 1857 through 1882. It was the first commercially successful revolver to use rimfire cartridges instead of loose powder, musket ball, and percussion caps. It is a single-action, tip-up revolver holding seven .22 Short black powder cartridges. During the production run it was issued 3 times, with significant changes to each revision.

The 2nd Issue of the Model 1 looked similar to the 1st Issue, with several notable differences. The side plate on the 2nd Issue was much larger and irregularly shaped. The profile of the frame was flatter (a likely concession for manufacturing efficiency), and the hammer was now made in one piece. Model 1 2nd Issues still had the flared, square cornered shaped grip and the octagonal tip-up style frame, and at first glance the two issues are easy to confuse.

There are several variations of the 2nd Issue guns. Variants between serial numbers 12,000 through to about 20,000 involve the shape of the side plate ("straight" or "round"), the design of the trigger spring (flat spring, V spring or coil spring), and the number of patent dates on the cylinder (two or three). There was also a decrease in the size of the barrel roll stamps at around serial number 95,000. There were approximately 110,000 2nd Issues produced from 1860 through 1868, with serial numbers ranging from approximately 12,000 (following the 1st Issue) through to approximately 120,000

This lovely example has a plated brass frame with steel barrel and cylinder. The plating on the frame is very well retained, and looks to be silver or silver over nickel, with just a bit of wear through on the trigger spur. Some of it is polished bright, while other areas have a lovely tarnished blue color. The barrel and cylinder still retain much of the original high gloss blue finish, showing some wear and past oxidation, but they are definitely well above what we usually see on these revolvers. It is marked with serial number 109246 on the bottom of the grip and on the inside of the right grip scale. It also is marked with assembly number S 00  on the right side of the grip frame, rear of the barrel, and the front of the cylinder, which makes this a great "ALL MATCHING" example, with no parts swapped out over the years!

The model 1 is loaded by actually unhooking the bottom of the barrel so it could swivel upwards, allowing the entire cylinder to be removed in order to reload. Fitted with spur trigger, these were an extremely convenient little multi shot revolver ideal for a lady or gambler. Fully marked along the top of the barrel:-

On the 2nd Issue, the patent information is stamped onto the side of the smooth cylinder, which is still fully present, with just a bit of oxidation around it:

We also noted that the right side of the frame had the following inscription:

J. T. Thouson
1864

We have done some research, and we found both a James T. Thouson and Thomas J. Thouson listed in the muster rolls of Company L of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry, and he enlisted in 1864. There is a card confirming that these are in fact the same person from the records. "L" company was part of the first Battalion, which was formed as the "Independent Battalion, Massachusetts Cavalry", originally the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Mass. It was then assigned to the 4th Mass and set out in Florida in February 1864. Full Unit History is listed at the bottom of this description, and there are also scans of his service history in the pictures. Please note that the service history was originally folded, so the "pages" are not quite in order. We assume that Thouson purchased this revolver to remember his service after the war, as the serial number indicates production in 1867, several years after the war ended.

The grips are in lovely condition, with the rosewood grain showing clearly, and they still retain almost all of the original factory "piano varnish" finish present.  There is the usual wear around the bottom corner on both sides, but no chips or cracks. The revolver was produced in the "half plated" configuration, with the plated frame and blued barrel and cylinder. As mentioned previously, the plating is very well retained with a tarnished look, and the bluing is also very well retained.

The revolver cycles great, with accurate indexing and a firm cylinder lockup. We did not notice any of the usual finicky behavior we often see on revolvers of this age. The bore is in excellent condition, showing crisp lands and grooves with a bright finish. It does not look to have been used much, if at all, and is a truly exceptional bore for one of these popular pistols from the black powder era.

A beautiful named example of an early cartridge revolver with a fantastic bore, ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: 1860 - 1868
Caliber: .22 Short Blackpowder
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Blackpowder Cartridge
Barrel Length: 3 1/8 inches
Overall Length: 7 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 7 Shot Revolver

4th Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment
First Battalion (Companies I, K, L, and M) was initially formed as Independent Battalion, Massachusetts Cavalry (formerly the 3rd Battalion, 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry). It was assigned to the regiment on February 12, 1864. Expedition from Jacksonville, Fla., to Lake City, Fla., February 7–22, 1864. Battle of Olustee, Fla., February 20. McGrath's Creek, Cedar Run, March 1. Cedar Run April 2. Ordered to Bermuda Hundred, Va., arriving there May 8. Operations against Fort Darling April 12–16. Bermuda Hundred May 20–30. Jordan's Crossing and Petersburg June 9. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864 to April 2, 1865. At Headquarters, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, June 21 to August 15, 1864. At Headquarters, X Corps, until December 1864. Demonstration on the north side of the James River August 13–20. Strawberry Plains August 14–18. Flusser's Mills August 18–19. (Company M detached at Harrison's Landing on outpost duty August 23, 1864 to March 1865.) Before Petersburg August 24 to September 28. Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 28–30. Harrison's Landing October 13 (Company M). Fair Oaks October 27–28. Expedition into Charles City and Henrico Counties November 1–5. Duty before Richmond until March 1865. At Headquarters, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, December 1864 to April 1865 (Companies I, L, and M). At Headquarters, XXIV Corps, December 1864 to April 1865 (Company K). Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9, 1865. Fall of Petersburg April 2. High Bridge, Farmville, April 6–7. Appomattox Court House April 9, Surrender of Lee and his army. Duty at Richmond until November.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.