Offered here is a highly desirable and exceptionally rare factory "Club Gun" serial number "02". "Club Guns" are a special group of handguns S&W gave or loaned to factory personnel, shooting clubs and/or notable shooters as samples or test guns. These highly prized guns were generally assigned "zero" serial number prefixes, but early production guns are found with the serial numbers containing the letter "O" or the letter "C." The "02" serial number is on the butt while the last digit of the serial number ("2") appears on the cylinder, barrel, and barrel latch. The revolver has target sights and one-line address on the barrel rib. The accompanying factory letters identify this Club Gun with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, target sights, checkered wood grips and blue finish when shipped in January 1899 to Dr. W.A. Smith. Dr. Walter A. Smith (1856-1929) of Springfield, MA. was a prominent surgeon in western Massachusetts as well as a champion revolver shooter and a member of the Springfield Revolver Club. For many years he was the chief surgeon at Mercy Hospital, the hospital in Springfield that he was instrumental in getting built. He served as a surgeon in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia with the rank of major and was one of the founders of the Springfield Academy of Medicine where he served as president for many years.

Fine, retaining 70% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The grip straps have a smooth brown-gray patina. 50% original case colors remain on the hammer and trigger guard. The grips are also fine with some minor handling marks and a few blemishes in the overall crisp checkering . Mechanically excellent. An ultra rare S&W Club pistol, one of the very first produced! Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.