EXCEEDINGLY RARE & STUPENDOUS PAIR OF SMITH & WESSON NO. 1 SECOND ISSUE SPUR TRIGGER GOLD INLAID REVOLVERS, ENGRAVED & PRESENTATION INSCRIBED BY GUSTAVE YOUNG FOR JOHN A. RICE.

EXCEEDINGLY RARE & STUPENDOUS PAIR OF SMITH & WESSON NO. 1 SECOND ISSUE SPUR TRIGGER GOLD INLAID REVOLVERS, ENGRAVED & PRESENTATION INSCRIBED BY GUSTAVE YOUNG FOR JOHN A. RICE. Cal. 22 Short. SN 68901 & 68902. These phenomenal revolvers are well known in Smith & Wesson collecting circles having passed through a number of fine collections and dealers including the marvelous Press Collection and equally famous the Locke Collection, and are pictured in Parsons’ book on Smith & Wessons, page 23, and page 63 of The Locke Collection book. These revolvers were ordered by a famous hotelier, John A. Rice, in 1865, just at the end of the Civil War. They are virtually identical with what is probably the finest example of Gustave Young engraving. The engraving consists of very delicate intertwined foliate arabesque patterns and incorporate Young’s trademark wolf’s head on each side of both revolvers. These wolf’s heads are in far greater detail and delicacy than any others previously observed. The engraving also is full coverage on both sides of each hammer. There is a gold band inlaid at the muzzle and border gold wire on each side of the bbl flat as well as gold wire patterns in bands on each cylinder with gold wire outlining the patent dates. Both have beautifully fitted pearl grips. The back strap of #68901 is inscribed “J.A.R. 1865.” The back strap of #68902 is inscribed “J.A.R. to / C.C.W. 1865.”

Mr. Rice was the proprietor of the Sherman House Hotel in Chicago, IL at the time he ordered these revolvers. He was personally acquainted with D.B. Wesson apparently from childhood in Massachusetts in the 1840’s. It is reported that on March 4, 1876 Mr. Rice wrote Mr. Wesson a letter requesting that Mr. Wesson forward one of his largest size pocket pistols with tools & case. Mr. Wesson immediately responded and gifted Mr. Rice the newest model, a 38 single action 1st model revolver, serial number 35. Mr. Rice responded to the unexpected gift by inviting Mr. Wesson to be his guest at the Globe Hotel in Philadelphia while the Wessons were attending the Centennial Exposition. This friendship apparently explains how Mr. Rice was able to order and immediately receive attention at Smith & Wesson when Smith & Wesson was still trying to recover from being severely backlogged with war time production.

On March 10, 1865, Smith & Wesson selected this pair of revolvers and fitted them with high grade pearl stocks. Not having a factory engraver, they contacted Gustave Young to do the engraving, which he readily agreed to. At that time, Young was Colt’s engraver, however it appears he was willing to take on additional work and agreed to engrave and embellish these revolvers for $50.00. Smith & Wesson agreed and sent along the revolvers which were finished in short order and returned to Smith & Wesson where the bbls and cylinders were blued and the frames gold plated. They were shipped on April 5, 1865 to Mr. Rice in Chicago by Adams Express and invoiced for the princely sum of $100.00. Mr. Rice was so pleased with their appearance that he immediately ordered a third one for another partner, David A. Gage. The third revolver was received by Mr. Rice about June 9, 1865 and was invoiced for $50.00. It appears that these revolvers are the first work done by Gustave Young for Smith & Wesson and certainly some of his finest. Apparently he regarded them as test samples to solicit future work. In 1868 he moved his family to Springfield, Mass and became the factory engraver which lasted until 1912.

These revolvers are accompanied by an unpublished 10-page article by Roy G. Jinks fully detailing most the above information. Also accompanying is a large packet of copies of letters between Rice and Smith & Wesson and between Smith & Wesson and Gustave Young. Also accompanying is a copy of a sketch of Mr. Rice, a biography of Mr. Rice, a copy of an article regarding Mr. Rice that appeared in the Chicago Tribune April 18, 1888, the day before he died. These revolvers are also accompanied by a custom Lucite display case. These important, historic revolvers have been illustrated in various publications including “Smith & Wesson Revolvers” by John E. Parsons page 23; “Steel Canvas” by R. L. Wilson, page 38, and “The William M. Locke Collection” by Frank Sellers, illustrated on page 364. These guns were originally in the famous Carl Press collection.

CONDITION: Extremely fine, as new, appear to be unfired. #68901 retains virtually all of its beautiful high gloss blue and fine gold plating, along with bright case colors on the hammer. Right grip has a tiny chip at the heel. #68902 also retains most of its brilliant original factory finish with some fine speckles of surface etching on the bbl and toning to plum on the cylinder. Hammer case colors are dark and the left grip has a tiny chip in the edge. Both revolvers have crisp mechanics and brilliant shiny bores. 4-53184 JR831 (175,000-225,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004

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
	1151	$189,750.00	EXCEEDINGLY RARE & STUPENDOUS PAIR OF SMITH & WESSON NO. 1 SECOND ISSUE SPUR TRIGGER GOLD INLAID REVOLVERS, ENGRAVED & PRESENTATION INSCRIBED BY GUSTAVE YOUNG FOR JOHN A. RICE. Cal. 22 Short. SN 68901 & 68902. These phenomenal revolvers are well known in Smith & Wesson collecting circles having passed through a number of fine collections and dealers including the marvelous Press Collection and equally famous the Locke Collection, and are pictured in Parsons’ book on Smith & Wessons, page 23, and page 63 of The Locke Collection book. These revolvers were ordered by a famous hotelier, John A. Rice, in 1865, just at the end of the Civil War. They are virtually identical with what is probably the finest example of Gustave Young engraving. The engraving consists of very delicate intertwined foliate arabesque patterns and incorporate Young’s trademark wolf’s head on each side of both revolvers. These wolf’s heads are in far greater detail and delicacy than any others previously observed. The engraving also is full coverage on both sides of each hammer. There is a gold band inlaid at the muzzle and border gold wire on each side of the bbl flat as well as gold wire patterns in bands on each cylinder with gold wire outlining the patent dates. Both have beautifully fitted pearl grips. The back strap of #68901 is inscribed “J.A.R. 1865.” The back strap of #68902 is inscribed “J.A.R. to / C.C.W. 1865.” Mr. Rice was the proprietor of the Sherman House Hotel in Chicago, IL at the time he ordered these revolvers. He was personally acquainted with D.B. Wesson apparently from childhood in Massachusetts in the 1840’s. It is reported that on March 4, 1876 Mr. Rice wrote Mr. Wesson a letter requesting that Mr. Wesson forward one of his largest size pocket pistols with tools & case. Mr. Wesson immediately responded and gifted Mr. Rice the newest model, a 38 single action 1st model revolver, serial number 35. Mr. Rice responded to the unexpected gift by inviting Mr. Wesson to be his guest at the Globe Hotel in Philadelphia while the Wessons were attending the Centennial Exposition. This friendship apparently explains how Mr. Rice was able to order and immediately receive attention at Smith & Wesson when Smith & Wesson was still trying to recover from being severely backlogged with war time production. On March 10, 1865, Smith & Wesson selected this pair of revolvers and fitted them with high grade pearl stocks. Not having a factory engraver, they contacted Gustave Young to do the engraving, which he readily agreed to. At that time, Young was Colt’s engraver, however it appears he was willing to take on additional work and agreed to engrave and embellish these revolvers for $50.00. Smith & Wesson agreed and sent along the revolvers which were finished in short order and returned to Smith & Wesson where the bbls and cylinders were blued and the frames gold plated. They were shipped on April 5, 1865 to Mr. Rice in Chicago by Adams Express and invoiced for the princely sum of $100.00. Mr. Rice was so pleased with their appearance that he immediately ordered a third one for another partner, David A. Gage. The third revolver was received by Mr. Rice about June 9, 1865 and was invoiced for $50.00. It appears that these revolvers are the first work done by Gustave Young for Smith & Wesson and certainly some of his finest. Apparently he regarded them as test samples to solicit future work. In 1868 he moved his family to Springfield, Mass and became the factory engraver which lasted until 1912. These revolvers are accompanied by an unpublished 10-page article by Roy G. Jinks fully detailing most the above information. Also accompanying is a large packet of copies of letters between Rice and Smith & Wesson and between Smith & Wesson and Gustave Young. Also accompanying is a copy of a sketch of Mr. Rice, a biography of Mr. Rice, a copy of an article regarding Mr. Rice that appeared in the Chicago Tribune April 18, 1888, the day before he died. These revolvers are also accompanied by a custom Lucite display case. These important, historic revolvers have been illustrated in various publications including “Smith & Wesson Revolvers” by John E. Parsons page 23; “Steel Canvas” by R. L. Wilson, page 38, and “The William M. Locke Collection” by Frank Sellers, illustrated on page 364. These guns were originally in the famous Carl Press collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, as new, appear to be unfired. #68901 retains virtually all of its beautiful high gloss blue and fine gold plating, along with bright case colors on the hammer. Right grip has a tiny chip at the heel. #68902 also retains most of its brilliant original factory finish with some fine speckles of surface etching on the bbl and toning to plum on the cylinder. Hammer case colors are dark and the left grip has a tiny chip in the edge. Both revolvers have crisp mechanics and brilliant shiny bores. 4-53184 JR831 (175,000-225,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004 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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