My First Antique - Model 1 2nd Issue

[kscharlie]

I have long admired and wanted a Model 1 2nd Issue. I am not really into antique S&Ws, but I do keep my eye open, and faithfully keep up with the information provided here on the forum. Last week, George Dye had one listed on GB. The description sounded good and the pictures looked like it was a respectable one. Not sure what happened, but apparently the buyers snoozed on this one. At any rate, it was delivered to my door by the mailman today.

Upon finally getting everything opened up and unwrapped, I was very pleased with my purchase. All the mechanics work perfectly, it still has a lot of the silver plate remaining on the frame, and the stocks are stamped with the correct serial number, 59411. Most of the barrel is patina, but there is some blue still showing. The cylinder has all 3 patent dates stamped on it. The cylinder charge holes are all very clean and shiny. There is some pitting in the barrel, but all the lands and grooves are clean and well defined. I don't know much about these guns, but the grip frame, cylinder and inside end of the barrel are all stamped "X44". Not sure why, but it sticks in my mind that I have seen this exact stamp on pictures of other Model 1s, so maybe the X44 is meaningless?

From the estimated production dates found in Neal & Jinks book, this gun likely was produced very early in 1865.

Any other information would be much appreciated. Is there anything else I should look for on this gun or anything I have missed?

Thanks for your help.

[iby]

Interesting note.
By the time Colt started delivering the SAA,(1874) S & W had built and sold maybe 75,000 guns.
The movies don't get it right.

[glowe]

What are you comparing Colt SAs to with respect to S&W models? By 1874, over 126,000 Model 1, 1st & 2nd Models were sold, About 100,000 Model 1, 3rds left the factory, 127,000 Model 1 1/2 manufactured, 77,000 Model 2 made, 32,000 Model 3s out the door, plus a few 44 Russian contract guns were sold.

Your old Model 1 is in nice shape, with most of the silver plate still in place. I have always had a problem, however, with Rosewood stocks on tip-ups with open grain showing?? Never nailed it down, but always thought that the factory finished stocks were smooth & shiny. I look at open grain stocks like the ones on this Model 1 as being refinished. Anybody studied this, since I have always passed on tip-ups with open grain oiled stocks.

[first-model]

Nice looking gun! It shipped in January of 1865. Almost certainly went to Joseph W. Storrs, who was Smith & Wesson's sole sales agent in New York City.

Mike

[mmaher94087]

"..are all stamped "X44". Not sure why,..". This is an assembly number used to keep all the major parts together after they are finished. The markings indicate that your revolver is original and not 'put together'.

[mrcvs]

George Dye has nice stuff, doesn't he?

[iby]

[QUOTE=glowe;140934943]What are you comparing Colt SAs to with respect to S&W models? By 1874, over 126,000 Model 1, 1st & 2nd Models were sold, About 100,000 Model 1, 3rds left the factory, 127,000 Model 1 1/2 manufactured, 77,000 Model 2 made, 32,000 Model 3s out the door, plus a few 44 Russian contract guns were sold.

Your old Model 1 is in nice shape, with most of the silver plate still in place. I have always had a problem, however, with Rosewood stocks on tip-ups with open grain showing?? Never nailed it down, but always thought that the factory finished stocks were smooth & shiny. I look at open grain stocks like the ones on this Model 1 as being refinished. Anybody studied this, since I have always passed on tip-ups with open grain oiled stocks.

I was trying to compare Model 3's (American/Russians) to the Colt SAA.
I also posted on the wrong thread in my haste.
I was including the early Russian contracts.
What do you think the actual #'s were??

[kscharlie]

Not sure what is going on with the forum, but I am unable to make the quote system work. So I will enter everything manually...

Glowe: Gary, by it's nature, rosewood is a very open grained wood. I have never seen rosewood grips that did not display such an open pattern. That is one of the first things I look for to verify rosewood versus goncalo alves. While I learned a long time ago to "never say never", I am confident these grips have never been refinished. The fit is more exact than any of the grips on my hand ejectors. It is impossible to feel where the grips end and the frame begins anywhere on the frame.

First-model: Mike, thank you very much for that ship date. I was hoping you would see this post and provide a date for me. Much appreciated. I figured that it most likely shipped to Storrs.

Mmaher94087: Mike, thanks for verifying these marks as being assembly numbers. I was unsure if S&W was following this practice way back then. I was also hoping that is what they were and would verify the complete originality of the gun.

Mrcvs: Ian, yes George Dye consistently has very nice stuff in his auctions. I don't know how many other auctions I have watched and ended up passing on GB for Model 1s being offered. Most of them I have seen ended up selling for more money than I was willing to part with, or they were broken guns in poor shape that the seller was asking way too much for. I kept my eye on this one quite closely, but knowing how his auctions nearly always command top dollar, I was not overly optimistic. With a bit over 2 hours left on the auction, the bid was $285. I placed my maximum bid of $350 and was amazed that I immediately had the top bid at $300. It stayed that way until the auction ended.

[glowe]

Here are a few. I imagine that there was a variety of rosewood available, but all mine are smooth surface, so maybe the factory filled the wood as they were finishing the stocks??