{"product_id":"original-u-s-circa-1872-whitneyville-armory-no-1-engraved-32-rimfire-brass-frame-single-action-revolver-all-matching-serial-no-148","title":"Original U.S. Circa 1872 Whitneyville Armory No. 1½ Engraved .32 Rimfire Brass Frame Single Action Revolver - All Matching Serial No. 148","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a beautiful engraved example of the Whitneyville Armory No. 1½ Pocket Revolver, chambered for the .32 rimfire cartridge. It features a nickel plated brass frame, blued steel barrel and cylinder, American black walnut grips, and extensive period style engraving. All numbered components, including both grip panels, match serial number \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e148\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhitneyville, Connecticut, now part of Hamden, took its name from its association with inventor and firearms manufacturer Eli Whitney. In addition to developing the cotton gin, Whitney established an important arms factory that manufactured U.S. military muskets and other firearms. His son, Eli Whitney Jr., continued and expanded the family’s firearms business, and the factory became widely known as the Whitneyville Armory.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Whitneyville No. 1½ was a compact, five shot pocket revolver intended for personal protection. Chambered in .32 rimfire, it could be carried easily in a coat pocket while offering more power than many of the smaller .22 caliber revolvers of the period. Its spur trigger, removable cylinder arbor pin, brass frame, and compact dimensions are typical of American cartridge pocket revolvers produced during the 1870s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a particularly attractive upscale example with extensive engraving across the brass frame. The decoration consists of banknote style scrollwork surrounded by finely executed punch dot backgrounds. Additional engraved accents appear on the barrel and cylinder, giving the entire revolver a coordinated and highly decorative appearance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe top barrel flat bears the early single line address:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWHITNEYVILLE ARMORY CT. U.S.A.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdditional engraving surrounds the address marking. Later examples incorporated patent information into the barrel marking. This early address only variation is generally associated with production during 1871 and 1872, when the applicable patent was still pending.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSerial number \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e148\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e appears on the bottom of the grip frame, the underside of the barrel, the rear of the cylinder, and the cylinder arbor pin and ejector assembly. The inside of both wooden grip panels is also numbered \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e148\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Every numbered component therefore matches, with no evidence of replaced or exchanged principal parts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe revolver originally had a nickel plated brass frame with a high polish blue finish on its steel components. Nearly all of the exposed nickel plating has worn away from the frame, leaving an attractive mellow brass surface. Protected areas beneath the grips retain remnants of the original nickel finish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe high gloss blue remains remarkably well preserved on the barrel, cylinder, and even the ejector portion of the cylinder arbor pin. There is some denting at the front of the frame near the arbor pin, possibly indicating that the pin became stuck or required force to remove at some point.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe American black walnut grips remain very attractive and display only light wear. Both retain most of their original glossy “piano varnish” finish. The right grip panel has several scattered dents and handling marks, but both panels remain solid and correctly fitted.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe revolver functions beautifully. The hammer cocks and releases correctly, the cylinder advances with accurate indexing, and lockup is solid. The action dry operates crisply without the erratic or finicky behavior frequently encountered in small cartridge revolvers of this age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe bore remains in very good condition, displaying clear lands and grooves with a partially bright surface. Some oxidation is present within the grooves, as expected from a black powder era revolver that saw use, but the bore remains well above average.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an especially appealing Whitneyville No. 1½ Pocket Revolver with extensive engraving, all matching numbered components, strong mechanics, attractive walnut grips, and substantial original blue finish remaining on its steel parts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: Circa 1872\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eManufacturer: Whitneyville Armory\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModel: No. 1½ Pocket Revolver\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSerial Number: 148\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: .32 Rimfire\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarrel Length: 3½\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 7¾\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction: Single Action\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCapacity: Five Rounds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrame: Nickel Plated Brass\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrips: American Black Walnut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: As this is chambered for .32\" rimfire ammunition, this revolver may not be considered \"obsolete calibre\" in the UK. International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44964682989637,"sku":"ONJR26APNS086","price":795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/151741C1-01BA-4148-B736-890761F20564.jpg?v=1777922226","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-circa-1872-whitneyville-armory-no-1-engraved-32-rimfire-brass-frame-single-action-revolver-all-matching-serial-no-148","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}