The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver with a "short barrel" (exact length unavailable), nickel finish, and checkered black hard rubber grips when shipped on January 26, 1889 and delivered to M.W. Robinson of New York City. In regards to the short barrel S&W historian Roy Jinks comments in the letter, "The manufacturing records do no list any different barrel lengths for this time frame, but the barrel could have been completed years before it was assembled to the revolver. I have seen several short barreled models where the barrel marking extends onto the top strap." The 2 1/2 inch barrel is certainly factory. As noted by Jinks the two-line S&W address/patent dates legend extends on to the top strap as necessitated by the short barrel. The barrel latch and barrel are unnumbered. Matching serial numbers appear on the butt and cylinder. The grips are poor replacements. The revolver was part of the 2015 NRA Single Action Shooting Society exhibit. Provenance: The Supica Collection; 2015 NRA Single Action Shooting Society Exhibit

Fair. A true diamond in the rough this extremely rare short barrel S&W .44 Double Action Revolver is nearly impossible to find and has all of the character of a trusty sidearm that saw it all and spending a lifetime a challenging environment. Grips also fair replacements. Mechanically functions, but slightly out of time. This is a quintessential factory "belly gun" of the late 19th century! The stories it could tell! This 2 1/2 inch barrel S&W .44 DA First Model Revolver is missing from even the most advanced collections.