VERY RARE ENGRAVED AND CASED SMITH AND WESSON 38 SINGLE ACTION 2ND MODEL TOP BREAK REVOLVER TWO BARREL SET.

SN 81871. Cal. 38 S&W. Silver & blue finish with 5″ and 3-1/4″ rnd ribbed bbls that have pinned half-moon front sights and fixed rear sights in the bbl latches. Frame is spur trigger style with rnd butt, mounted with 2-pc smooth pearl grips that have deep gold S&W medallions. Revolver is spectacularly relief engraved with full coverage, incredible, intertwined foliate arabesque and floral engraving patterns that have fine shaded background. Frame has about 90% coverage, including even the back of recoil shields. Matching engraving patterns extend over the top straps and nearly full length on sides of bbls with matching patterns on the bottom of the bbls at the muzzles. Top of the ribs are engraved with geometric patterns each end of the address. Backstrap and buttstrap are also engraved to match. Cyl is engraved with full coverage matching patterns with an open space border around the flutes and cyl stop notches with a smooth band where one would expect to see a cyl line. Spare bbl has the SN 121420. Accompanied by a rare and nicely decorated, blue velvet lined, acid-etched brass case which is compartmented for the revolver, an extra bbl and a miniature oil bottle (which is missing). This case was produced by the L.F. Grammes & Sons Co., of Allentown, PA. The Grammes Co., was founded in 1875 and specialized in bespoke display boxes with a variety of levels of adornment. This truly wonderful case is illustrated on the top, front and both ends with acid-etched panels depicting nautical themes, the feature image on the front is strongly influenced from the painting “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa”, a pivotal woodblock print by the famous Japanese artist, Hokusai, from his early 1830’s series “30-6 Views of Mount Fuji”, arguably one of the most important Japanese works of the 19th century. This case is unlike anything ever encountered by this cataloger but there is no doubt whatsoever that it is period to the revolver. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except short bbl, as noted. Long bbl retains about 80% of its dull blue finish and the frame is a light silvered patina. Cyl retains dark blue in the flutes. Grips are sound with great fire. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore with a few small scattered spots of pitting. The short bbl retains about 99% strong blue with brilliant shiny bore, probably unfired. Box is sound with some water spots on the front and shows a medium to dark mustard patina. Interior is moderately to heavily faded, showing bright purple in the center of the lid, faded to gold around the edges. Bottom is lightly soiled. 49654-4 JR (4,000-7,000) – Lot 3270

Auction: Firearms - October 2015

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
	3270	$5,175.00	VERY RARE ENGRAVED AND CASED SMITH AND WESSON 38 SINGLE ACTION 2ND MODEL TOP BREAK REVOLVER TWO BARREL SET. SN 81871. Cal. 38 S&W. Silver & blue finish with 5″ and 3-1/4″ rnd ribbed bbls that have pinned half-moon front sights and fixed rear sights in the bbl latches. Frame is spur trigger style with rnd butt, mounted with 2-pc smooth pearl grips that have deep gold S&W medallions. Revolver is spectacularly relief engraved with full coverage, incredible, intertwined foliate arabesque and floral engraving patterns that have fine shaded background. Frame has about 90% coverage, including even the back of recoil shields. Matching engraving patterns extend over the top straps and nearly full length on sides of bbls with matching patterns on the bottom of the bbls at the muzzles. Top of the ribs are engraved with geometric patterns each end of the address. Backstrap and buttstrap are also engraved to match. Cyl is engraved with full coverage matching patterns with an open space border around the flutes and cyl stop notches with a smooth band where one would expect to see a cyl line. Spare bbl has the SN 121420. Accompanied by a rare and nicely decorated, blue velvet lined, acid-etched brass case which is compartmented for the revolver, an extra bbl and a miniature oil bottle (which is missing). This case was produced by the L.F. Grammes & Sons Co., of Allentown, PA. The Grammes Co., was founded in 1875 and specialized in bespoke display boxes with a variety of levels of adornment. This truly wonderful case is illustrated on the top, front and both ends with acid-etched panels depicting nautical themes, the feature image on the front is strongly influenced from the painting “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa”, a pivotal woodblock print by the famous Japanese artist, Hokusai, from his early 1830’s series “30-6 Views of Mount Fuji”, arguably one of the most important Japanese works of the 19th century. This case is unlike anything ever encountered by this cataloger but there is no doubt whatsoever that it is period to the revolver. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except short bbl, as noted. Long bbl retains about 80% of its dull blue finish and the frame is a light silvered patina. Cyl retains dark blue in the flutes. Grips are sound with great fire. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore with a few small scattered spots of pitting. The short bbl retains about 99% strong blue with brilliant shiny bore, probably unfired. Box is sound with some water spots on the front and shows a medium to dark mustard patina. Interior is moderately to heavily faded, showing bright purple in the center of the lid, faded to gold around the edges. Bottom is lightly soiled. 49654-4 JR (4,000-7,000) – Lot 3270 Auction: Firearms - October 2015 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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VERY RARE ENGRAVED AND CASED SMITH AND WESSON 38 SINGLE ACTION 2ND MODEL TOP BREAK REVOLVER TWO BARREL SET.