Around 10,000 of these pistols were manufactured by Brown Manufacturing Co. in Newburyport, Mass., c. 1869-1873 with about 7,000 being brass framed and 3,000 being iron. This design was first manufactured under the Merrimack Arms & Mfg. Co. from 1866-1869. They are rarely found with significant original finish as most spent many long days in someone's pocket. It has a small German silver blade front sight, "BROWN MF'G. Co./NEWBURYPORT. MASS./PAT. APR. 9. 1867." and the desirable matching serial number "1", including on the dark rosewood grips. The inside of the grips are also hand marked "RH" and "HAMILTON". This pistol was on display at NRA National Sporting Arms Museum 2013-2022 and is pictured in the book "Guns of the NRA NSAM" 2017 on p. 197. Provenance: The Supica Collection

Good, the iron components showing mostly a bright grey patina with some scattered light surface pitting and faint traces of the original silver finish on the brass which otherwise shows an attractively aged patina. The grips are also good with some scattered light handling marks. Mechanically excellent.