Model 1 second issue help

[Bassaro]

Hello all I was hoping someone could help me with the date of manufacture on a Model 1 second issue 22rf I recently acquired. The serial number is 88068.

This is my first antique smith. I ran a cylinder of CB shorts through ( as a first, last, and only occasion) and it performed great.

 

[H Richard]

I'm going to guess around 1864. The 2nd Mod's were from 1860 to 1868, s/n's 11672 to 126361. Looks like a nice condition one. With it's possible origin date it "might" have been used in the Civil War. If your interested in that possibility you can get a "letter" of Authenticity which costs $100. It will tell you exactly when shipped and to who (usually a distributor) and a history of that model.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=17
Here's a link to the letter request form.

 

[Bassaro]

Thank you, I was kicking around the idea of having it lettered. $100 is very reasonable as opposed to Colt letters...

I mainly collect WW1 and WW2 era pistols so this is all new ground to me. From collecting on that end I get the "might" on historical guns. I always wanted a Civil war era pistol. It would be nice if I lucked out and this fills that slot.

 

[glowe]

81,XXX shipped the very end of 1865. I usually use serial number 65,000 as the approximate cut-off for Model 1s to qualify as Civil War era, but am sure that exceptions exist.

Just found more detailed information that shows the following: Neal & Jinks book states 1864 sales numbers were sn 40,353 to 59,212 and 1865 was 59,213 to 83,170. The Civil War ended in April, 1865.

 

[LanceWhite]

Hello all I was hoping someone could help me with the date of manufacture on a Model 1 second issue 22rf I recently acquired. The serial number is 88068.

This is my first antique smith. I ran a cylinder of CB shorts through ( as a first, last, and only occasion) and it performed great.


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I shoot CB shorts as well through mine. I generally shoot mine in the backyard every 4th of July (I live in town) and usually put several cylinders through it. Those were robustly made, nothing wrong with shooting it with low pressure ammo every once in a while.

 

[gmborkovic]

You know, those Rosewood grips all ways amaze me. They are very rarely chipped and have a nice varnish finish. Nice snag.

 

[first-model]

I keep a database of several thousand Model 1's for which I know the shipping dates. Based on that, I'm guessing that this shipped in February or March of 1866.

As others have noted, these guns did not always ship in order of serial number. So, a factory letter could indicate otherwise (and I'd love to know if it does).

Mike