No. 1 Lever Action Pocket pistol manufactured by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson in Norwich, Connecticut, circa 1854-55. Total production of the No.1 lever action repeating pistol was approximately 1,200 pistols. This pistol is identified and pictured in Lewis and Rutter's book "Volcanic Firearms" on page 33. The pistol has the distinctive part-round/part-octagon barrel with integral six-shot magazine, toggle lever with finger hole and two-piece, bag-shaped grips. The pistol has the Type II features which include: (1) crowned muzzle, (2) rounded T-bar spring, (3) narrow muzzle collar and (4) clam-shell type magazine follower. The loading lever does not have a spur on the finger hole. The barrel has a brass front sight with flattened blade. A fixed rear sight is mounted on the frame. The frame, side plates, back strap and back of the hammer are decorated with the open scroll and leaf pattern engraving which was standard on most S&W No. 1 and No. 2 Lever Action Repeating Pistols. The left barrel flat is lightly stamped: "PATENT/FEB 14, 1854" in two lines, and the top of the barrel is stamped: "SMITH & WESSON/ NORWICH CT." in two lines. The right barrel flat is stamped: "CAST-STEEL" reading up from the magazine. The serial number "E 61" is stamped on the left side of the frame beneath the grips. "E61" is stamped on the bottom of the carrier, lever and "61" is stamped on the inside of each grip. All of the visible serial numbers match. The barrel/magazine are browned, the frame, side plates and lever are blued, and the hammer is color casehardened. The bag-shaped, rosewood grips have a high polish piano finish. The S&W lever action repeating pistols are rare and historically significant. Provenance: Bobby Smith and Steven Rutter collections.

Exceptionally fine. 85% of the plum brown finish is present on the barrel with light high point wear. The barrel markings are extremely crisp. The frame, side plates and lever retain 50% plus of the delicate high polish blue finish. There is some minor age discoloration on the bottom of the receiver. Most of the mottled case colors are present on the hammer. The grips are in excellent condition and retain close to 90% of the piano finish with a few very minor handling marks. The well-executed factory scroll and leaf engraving is crisp and deep. This is a really outstanding example of a scarce and historically significant S&W No. 1 Lever Action Repeating Pistol.