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, front face of the cylinder, and inside both grips. The patent date is 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. Provenance: The Dr. Gerald Klaz Collection

Very good, retains 75% of the original silver finish which shows a dark aged patina with the balance thinned to an antique brass and the iron showing mostly a smooth grey patina with a few scattered patches of very light pitting. The grips are also very good with some scattered light handling marks. Cocking the hammer turns the cylinder intermittently, otherwise mechanically fine.