Manufactured c. 1857-1858, this is an example of a Second Type Smith & Wesson No. 1 First Issue revolver. These No. 1 First Issue revolvers are considered to be the first successful American metallic cartridge revolver with a bored through cylinder. This example has the distinctive "bayonet" barrel latch visible on the front bottom of the frame and lacks the visible key fastening the recoil plate which was a defining feature of the First Type, while still having the revolving recoil plate. The barrel rib is unmarked, and matching numbers are present on the toe, barrel lug, front face of the cylinder and inside both grips. The patent date is faintly rolled on the cylinder in a single line. The distinctive round sideplate of the First Issue No. 1 revolvers is visible on the left of the frame. The butt is hand-engraved "M.J. Fitch/Almont Michigan". A Detroit Free Press article from September of 1864 lists an M.J. Fitch as a lieutenant in the second company of the 30th Michigan Regiment. Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection

Fine, retains 40% of the attractively aged silver finish, the balance having thinned to expose an attractively aged brass and a smooth grey patina on the iron. The grips are very good with some scattered light handling marks. Mechanically excellent.