There are manufacturing dates for the first model tipup 3th issue somewhere. The tiny revolver is produced from 1868.

But I like to know the serialnumbers pro year. Is there someone outthere who has this information?

I am specialy interested in the first years of production till 1871.

Thank you for your help.

There are shipping records, but no one has ever come up with any manufacturing records to my knowledge. There are daybooks for later models, now owned by private sources, which were kept by serial number by the "Floor" Foremen contractors that kept track in order to pay their workmen, as pay was by piece rate. I believe the day book for the first models have been long lost or destroyed/discarded by the factory or the contractors. Many of the Model One Smith & Wessons were not made by S&W but were only assembled by S&W from parts made elsewhere by employees of contractors. Ed.

Thanks Ed
Thuer/ Henk

Out of curiosity, Thuer, what are you looking to research with the Model 1, 3rd Issue? These little guns are my collecting interest, and I've been working steadily to build a database of serial numbers and ship dates (which, as Ed said, is the closest we can get to the manufacturing information you were talking about).

Mike

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SWCA 2721

I have a first 3rd that I think is a first year issue. Three digit serial number. I also have it lettered. I will post pics of the gun and letter later for the above mentioned database.

I just found some pics I had online of it. Can't make out the serial number but looks like it may be 462. I'll photo the archive letter later for more positive ID.

Here's the letter for the above revolver:

Yes, that's a very early Model 1, 3rd Issue. Pretty looking gun, and it's the somewhat rarer variety of the 3rd Issue with the square top. Looks like your gun still has a lot of the original blue.

Pretty!

Mike

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SWCA 2721

Thanks! It was given to my Father when he was about 12 years old back in the 1940s. My family's former housekeeper had it and it had belonged to her husband who was a sea captain. It was loaded when she gave it to him. I think it was his first handgun. He used to shoot it back in the 1940s which would have been with regular smokeless 22 shorts and the gun is still nice and tight with a really good bore and chambers. I've shot it with CCI CB caps. It's a great little gun.

Cool little gun thanks for posting .

121 Chambers St. New York City today. This is the building where J.W. Storrs was where my gun was shipped to in 1868. They were S&Ws sole agent from 1857-1869