My Dad gave me this as an early birthday present. It seems like everytime I letter one of his guns as a gift he gives me the gun a few months later
I think this was his first handgun. It is serial number 463 and was shipped to J.W. Storrs in New York on May 27th, 1868.

Here's the family history he sent to me:

"A little background on the little pistol. It was given to me by a Mrs. Rind (not sure of spelling) when I was 10 or 11. She came from Belfast and had a daughter Pink that was a school teacher when the folks moved back to Maine in 1948. I don't think Pink ever married. Mrs. Rind told me her father was a sea captain and took that little pistol with him when sailing. I remember it was loaded
at the time and mother took it to Joe Pinto in his drug store to unload it.

Mrs. Rind was grandfather Cole's housekeeper after Mrs. Cole died and more or less raised mother and Francis while they were young."

What a fine little revolver! That one looks to be in very good shape.

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David Wilson

Twaits,
Nice old S&W with some family history! Is that a 4 1/2 in barrel?

" Aaarg! Just the gun to repell boarders at sea!" Nice family keepsake, with a low serial number and the first style top strap. The barrel looks like the standard 3 3/16" to me. Ed.

Yup, standard barrel length. Is it safe to fire BB or CB caps out of these?
I won't fire any modern 22 shorts out of it but I'm pretty sure my Dad used to when he was a kid back in the 40s. The bore and chambers still look almost new and it functions flawlessly and is very tight.

If the cylinder lines up with the bore on full cock and the forcing cone is not damaged, it should be safe to shoot CB or BB caps. Wasn't it Mark Twain who said something like" If anyone ever shot me with one of these guns and I found out about it, it might upset me !" Ed.

Yes it was something like that I really need to read some Mark Twain. I think I did as a kid but I think I would appreciate it more now.

Here's a couple more pics with my Model 1 1/2. I was going to sell the 1 1/2 to offset the price of a Colt I just bought but after seeing it together with my Model 1 3rd, I don't think I can part with it just yet. They have almost exactly the same wear and patina and look so good together. Its almost creepy how similar they are I should really build a case for them.

Very nice pair. I've shown my 1 1/2's a few times that I put into a glass front shadow box. It sits on my desk along with a Mod 1 2nd Issue and a pair of top break .32's. Seems I enjoy these old guy's as much as shooting the more modern stuff. At this point I'd hate to think about parting with them. From your posts, I take it you are close to the Poulon auction site and can go there in person? Maybe next auction you could check out a couple for some of us before we bid?

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Yes I'm about an hour away. I can't stay away from them now. The next one will probably be in October and I'd be happy to check out guns for people here. I will post a reminder thread in October and people can post the lots they are interested in and I'll take a look.
I'm just hoping whatever my next job is I will be able to get the time to go up to the preview. I had a month of vacation time every year so getting the time off wasn't a problem, but I'm losing my job in about 3 weeks.

Da**, sorry to hear about your job. In this economy it isn't looking like it is easy to find something. I know my Son -in-law in CO was out of work about 6 months and is now enjoying a new job, but making about $20,000 less than he had been. A real change in lifestyle.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244