This Smith & Wesson No. 2 Lever Action Repeating Pistol was manufactured c. 1854. Nearly all of the approximately 500 No.2 Repeating Pistols were made with eight-inch barrels. Only ten No.2 Repeating pistols with six-inch barrels have been identified by collectors. This pistol has the Type II features that include: (1) crowned muzzle, (2) rounded T-bar spring, (3) hump on the rear of the frame behind the hammer, (4) finger lever with spur and (5) dual spring screws on the bottom of the frame. The part-round/part-octagon barrel has an integral magazine with full rib, brass pinchback front sight blade and steel, clam-shell, magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped; "SMITH & WESSON/NORWICH. CT./CAST-STEEL/PATENT" in four lines. The steel frame has a screw-fastened, L-shaped, rear sight and ejection port with square front and rear ends. The sideplates, sides and top of the frame, backstrap and top of the hammer are decorated with factory floral and scroll engraving. The hammer has fine hand-cut knurling on the spur. The two-piece rosewood grips have flared butts and a high polish piano finish. The serial number "37" is stamped on the right side of the frame beneath the grip. The pistol had a browned barrel, blued frame and casehardened hammer and lever. The steel used for the barrel and frame did not hold the finish well; very few S&W lever action pistols retain any original brown or blue finish.

Fair. This rare pistol has all of the original components. None of the brown and blue finish remains on the barrel and frame. The barrel and frame have a silver-gray patina with small spots of age discoloration. The left side of the frame has scattered pitting around the hammer screw with several spots of shallow pitting near the ejection port. The sides of the barrel and magazine have scattered shallow scratches and handling marks. The barrel legend is crisp and the factory engraving remains sharp. The flared rosewood grips have been revarnished and are in good overall condition with a few handling marks. This is a solid, original, example of an extremely rare S&W No. 2 Lever Action Repeating Pistol with the rare six-inch barrel. Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.