Smith & Wesson No. 2 Lever-Action pistol manufactured c. 1854. This large frame .41 caliber pistol has the rarely encountered six inch barrel. This pistol has the Type II features which include the distinctive hump on the top of the frame, two spring screws on the bottom of the frame and part-round/part-octagon barrel with crowned muzzle and T-bar magazine locking spring. The barrel has a flattened cone front sight, and a fixed L-shaped rear sight is mounted on the top of the frame. The hammer has borderless hand-cut knurling on the spur. The lever lacks the spur usually found on No. 2 pistols with 8 inch barrels. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "SMITH & WESSON/PATENT/CAST STEEL/NORWICH CT." using four different stamps. The serial number "22" is stamped on the lower left side of the frame beneath the grip and on the back face of the rear sight. "22" is written in pencil on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The sides and top of the frame and back strap are decorated with simple scroll and leaf factory engraving. The two-piece grips are straight grain American walnut. Smith & Wesson manufactured approximately 500 No. 2 pistols c. 1854-55. Most of these pistols had eight inch barrels. No. 2 Lever Action pistols with six inch barrels are extremely rare and almost never seen even by knowledgeable experienced collectors. This pistol is accompanied by a letter of provenance. Provenance: Eugene Herber (1848-1903), original owner and western saloon keeper; William Morris Jones (1878-1953), son-in-law to Herber; Arthur S. "Pete" Jones (1920-2013), son of William Jones (a copy of his New Mexico death certificate is also included).