RARE SMITH & WESSON NO. 1 SMALL FRAME VOLCANIC PISTOL.

RARE SMITH & WESSON NO. 1 SMALL FRAME VOLCANIC PISTOL. SN B53. Cal. 31. All steel construction with 4-1/8″ oct to rnd bbl, German silver pinched post front sight, integral magazine tube with top three flats of the octagonal area marked “CAST-STEEL / SMITH & WESSON / NORWICH, CT. / PATENT / FEB. 14 1854”. Sides of frame, side plates, top side flats, over chamber area, back edge of hammer & back strap are engraved in light foliate arabesque patterns. Mounted with 2-pc bag shaped rosewood grips numbered to this pistol. SN was observed on left side of butt strap under grip, inside grips and on lever flat inside the slot. No additional disassembly was effected to check for other matching numbers. Lever has a finger rest spur which is quite rare on any of these small pistols. None over SNB100 are known with a serial. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only about 1,200 of these rare pistols were pistols in the period 1854-1855. PROVENANCE: Dr. Edmund Lewis Collection CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbl & magazine retain 60-70% dark orig brown finish with balance flaked & worn to a light patina. Frame retains traces of blue in most sheltered areas being mostly a light silver/brown patina. Hammer retains strong case colors. Right grip has a repaired stress fracture, otherwise grips are sound showing light wear and retain most of their orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered small spots of light pitting.Illustrated in the forthcoming book Volcanic Firearms by Edmund Lewis and Stephen Rutter. 4-41296 JR81 (15,000-20,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2000	$12,650.00	RARE SMITH & WESSON NO. 1 SMALL FRAME VOLCANIC PISTOL. SN B53. Cal. 31. All steel construction with 4-1/8″ oct to rnd bbl, German silver pinched post front sight, integral magazine tube with top three flats of the octagonal area marked “CAST-STEEL / SMITH & WESSON / NORWICH, CT. / PATENT / FEB. 14 1854”. Sides of frame, side plates, top side flats, over chamber area, back edge of hammer & back strap are engraved in light foliate arabesque patterns. Mounted with 2-pc bag shaped rosewood grips numbered to this pistol. SN was observed on left side of butt strap under grip, inside grips and on lever flat inside the slot. No additional disassembly was effected to check for other matching numbers. Lever has a finger rest spur which is quite rare on any of these small pistols. None over SNB100 are known with a serial. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms only about 1,200 of these rare pistols were pistols in the period 1854-1855. PROVENANCE: Dr. Edmund Lewis Collection CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbl & magazine retain 60-70% dark orig brown finish with balance flaked & worn to a light patina. Frame retains traces of blue in most sheltered areas being mostly a light silver/brown patina. Hammer retains strong case colors. Right grip has a repaired stress fracture, otherwise grips are sound showing light wear and retain most of their orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered small spots of light pitting.Illustrated in the forthcoming book Volcanic Firearms by Edmund Lewis and Stephen Rutter. 4-41296 JR81 (15,000-20,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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