Smith & Wesson Lever Action Type II Repeating Pistol with very rare six-inch barrel manufactured c. 1854. This large frame, S&W lever action pistol has the Type II features which include pronounced hump at the top of the frame behind the trigger, two screws at the bottom of the frame, crowned muzzle and T-bar magazine locking spring. The pistol has a six-inch, part-round/part-octagon barrel with full length magazine and nickel-silver, pinch-back front sight blade. The magazine has a "clam-shell" follower. Large frame S&W repeating pistols with six-inch barrel are extremely rare; Edmund Lewis and Stephen Rutter note in "Volcanic Firearms" that fewer than ten large frame S&W repeating pistols had been identified with six-inch barrels. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with the first style legend: "SMITH & WESSON/CAST-STEEL NORWICH. CT. PATENT" in two lines. The receiver has a fixed rear sight, lever with finger hole and no spur and hammer with fine knurling on the spur. The two-piece grips are rosewood or walnut with a flared butt. The serial number is stamped on the back face of the rear sight, the right side of the frame beneath the grips and penciled on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The top and sides of the frame, side plates, top of the hammer and back strap are factory engraved with a simple scroll and leaf motif. The pistol barrel and frame were originally blued, and the hammer and lever were casehardened. The grips have a varnished, piano finish. Experts believe that S&W produced fewer than 500 large frame lever action pistols in .41 caliber. All of the S&W large frame lever action pistols are rare, but the .41 caliber pistols with six-inch barrels are extremely rare.

Very good. The barrel/magazine has a dark patina, smooth metal surfaces and sharp markings. The blue finish on the receiver has faded to a silver-gray patina with scattered spots of surface discoloration. There are traces of light pitting on the right side of the receiver and right side plate. The case colors on the hammer and lever have aged to a mottled gray patina. The factory scroll and leaf engraving is crisp. The two-piece grips are also in very good condition and retain half of the original varnish. The left grip has some edge wear on flared portion of the butt, and both grips have scattered minor handling marks. This is a solid example of an historically important and extremely scarce S&W Lever Action Type II Repeating Pistol with six-inch barrel. Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection