Rare factory cased, small frame Smith & Wesson No. 1 Lever Action Repeating Pistol. The pistol has the distinctive part round/part octagon barrel with integral magazine, loading lever with finger loop and two-piece, bag-shaped, rosewood grips. The barrel/magazine has a crowned muzzle, rounded T-bar spring, pinch-back front sight blade and steel, clam-shell magazine follower. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "SMITH & WESSON/NORWICH CT." in two lines and the lower left barrel flat is roll-stamped: "PATENT/FEB. 14. 1854" in two lines. The receiver has a loading lever without finger spur, flattened cylinder rear sight, small notch at the front of the ejection port and internal retaining spring with no visible screws. The serial number "D73" is stamped on the left side of the frame beneath the grip and on the bottom of the toggle mechanism. "73" is stamped on the inside of both grips. The top and sides of the receiver and back strap, side plates and back of the hammer are decorated with the standard S&W floral factory engraving. The barrel and magazine are browned, the frame and lever have a high polish blue finish and the hammer is color casehardened. The rosewood grips have a high polish piano finish. The pistol has a walnut, American style, case with a brass plate inlaid in the lid. The case is lined with Navy blue velvet and has three compartments including an ammunition compartment with lid. The case is identical to the Smith & Wesson factory cases pictured on page 86 of "VOLCANIC FIREARMS" by Lewis and Rutter. The ammunition compartment contains twenty-eight, .31 caliber Volcanic cartridges.

Very fine. This pistol is in exceptional condition and retains much of the original brown and bright blue finish on the barrel/magazine and receiver. The original brown finish on the barrel/magazine is 85% intact with some wear at the muzzle and some thinning along the magazine spring slot. The barrel markings are sharp. The receiver has 60% of the bright original high polish blue finish with loss on the edges and contact points. Significant amounts of nitre blue finish are present on protected areas of the lever, bolt and cartridge elevator. The hammer retains most of the original muted case colors. The simple but well executed factory engraving is crisp and sharp. The grips are very fine with 85% of the original piano finish and a few insignificant handling marks. The factory case remains in very fine condition. The exterior shows minimal handling wear. The blue velvet lining is bright and clean. There is no fading and wear is limited to some compression marks and one small tear from contact with the pistol high points. Smith & Wesson Volcanic pistols are rarely found with any of the delicate blue finish present of the receiver. The brown finish on the barrel and magazine has usually aged to a dark patina. This pistol retains an exceptional amount of the original brown and blue finish and is one of the very few known examples with an original factory case. This is one of the finest factory cased Smith & Wesson No. 1 Lever Action Repeating Pistols extant. Provenance: Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.