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 single line Smith & Wesson address is on top of the barrel rib and matching numbers are present on the toe, barrel lug, and inside both grips. The cylinder has the April 3, 1855 and July 5, 1859 patent dates (faint), making it a replacement 2nd issue component. The distinctive round sideplate of the First Issue No. 1 revolvers is visible on the left of the frame.

Good, showing a mottled grey-brown patina on the iron with some scattered light pitting, primarily on the cylinder, and the brass showing an attractive antique patina. The dark grips are also good with a repaired vertical crack the length of the right panel and otherwise light handling marks. The hammer only holds at full cock intermittently, otherwise mechanically fine.