Lot 1: Factory Engraved Smith & Wesson No. 1 Repeating Pistol

This Volcanic, No. 1 Lever Action Repeating Pistol was manufactured by Horace Smith & Daniel B. Wesson in Norwich Connecticut c. 1854-55. This early No. 1 Type II pistol has the rarely encountered spur loading lever. The .31 caliber, four-inch, part-round/part-octagon barrel with integral magazine has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, steel clam-shell magazine follower and nickel-silver, pinch top front sight. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "SMITH & WESSON/NORWICH CT." in two lines. The right barrel flat is roll-stamped "CAST-STEEL", and the left flat is stamped "PATENT/FEB. 14.1854" in two lines. The iron receiver has two-piece, bag-shaped, rosewood grips, loading lever with finger hole and spur, single cartridge elevator spring screw, small semi-circular cut-out at the front of the ejection port and pinch top rear sight. The hammer has fine hand cut knurling on the spur. The serial number is stamped on the receiver in front of the lever and on the inside of both bag-shaped grips. "B 67" is stamped on the left side of the butt beneath the grip. All of the visible serial numbers match. The receiver top, sides, back strap, side plates and the back of the hammer are decorated with the open scroll engraving that was standard on S&W lever action pistols. The barrel originally was browned, and the receiver and lever had a high polish blue finish. The hammer and trigger are color casehardened. The rosewood grips have a high polish piano finish. S&W manufactured approximately 1,200 No. 1 Lever Action pistols in 1854-55. No. 1 pistols with spur levers are rare.

Very good. This rare pistol retains small amounts of the original brown finish on the barrel and casehardened finish on the trigger and hammer. The barrel/magazine has a gray-brown patina with traces of finish in protected areas. Metal surfaces are mostly smooth with scattered handling marks and some roughness near the muzzle. The barrel markings are crisp. The receiver has a silver-gray patina with scattered age spots. The back strap has a dark patina with some rough surface texture. The simple but well-executed factory scroll engraving is sharp. The bag-shaped grips are very good overall with 80% of the original finish and a few insignificant handling marks. This is a fine example of a rare factory engraved S&W No. 1 Lever Action Pistol with spur lever.