No. 1 Lever Action Repeating Pistol manufactured by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson in Norwich, Connecticut, c. 1854-55. Smith & Wesson manufactured approximately 1200 No.1 lever action pistols. This 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 crowned muzzle, wide muzzle collar, rounded T-bar spring and "clam-shell" magazine follower. The loading lever has the distinctive finger hole but lacks the spur found on the very first No.1 pistols. The barrel has a brass front sight with flattened blade. A fixed rear sight is mounted on the receiver. The receiver, 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 pistols. The back strap is engraved with a rose and leaf motif that is slightly different form the other engraving. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "SMITH & WESSON/NORWICH CT." in two lines. The right barrel flat is stamped: "CAST-STEEL" reading toward the receiver. The left flat is roll-stamped: "PATENT/FEB. 14. 1854". The serial number "87" is stamped on the left side of the grip strap beneath the grip. "87" is stamped on the bottom of the lever and on the inside of each grip. The barrel/magazine is browned, the receiver is blued and the hammer, trigger and lever are casehardened. The bag shaped rosewood grips have a varnished piano finish. The S&W lever action repeating pistols are rare and historically significant. The toggle lever action, spring-loaded magazine and self-contained, primed, "rocket ball" cartridge were important developments in the evolution of repeating firearms. The Smith & Wesson Lever Action Repeating Pistols were pioneer arms for both Smith & Wesson and Winchester and are rare and very desirable pistols.

Fine. This rare pistol is all original and retains at least 20% of the browned, blue and casehardened finish. The barrel and integral magazine have smooth surfaces with sharp edges and crisp markings with 30% of the faded brown finish remains in protected areas. The receiver has a smooth silver-gray patina with traces of the high polish blue finish in protected areas. The factory engraving is deep and sharp. The side plate joints are tight but the receiver screws show screw-driver battering. Significant amounts of muted case colors are present on the hammer, trigger and lever. The bag-shaped rosewood grips remain in very fine condition and have close to 90% of the varnished piano finish intact. The action is not functioning correctly as hammer falls to cock and falls with the lever when it is cycled. This is a fine example of a scarce and historically significant Smith & Wesson No.1 Lever Action Repeating Pistol.