S&W Engraved Nickle 1 1/2 Revolver
- Thread starter Ed Hicks
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Model 1-1/2? Looks like a Mod 1-third to me, but I haven't exhausted my quota for being wrong today. -S2
deadin
US Veteran
It's as Speedo said, a No.1 3rd Issue.
Here's a 1 1/2:
Here's a 1 1/2:
sw44russ
Member
Well, I haven't filled my quota for incorrectness today either and whatever Model this is, that sure looks like Period Engraving to me.
As to whether it's Factory Engraved, it will most likely take a Factory Letter from Mr Jinks to answer that question.
That is a very pretty Gun you have there.
As to whether it's Factory Engraved, it will most likely take a Factory Letter from Mr Jinks to answer that question.
That is a very pretty Gun you have there.
opoefc
US Veteran
As said above, It's a .22 short RF cal. Model 1, 3rd issue, and I would attribute the engraving to after market NY style dealer engraving, but probably close to period work. Factory ordered engraving for guns of this period are much more detailed in composition, etc. although done off site from th factory location. Ed.
sw44russ
Member
So Ed; I've read that Guns that were for Engraving were shipped bare metal to the Engravers and then returned to the Factory for Finishing.
Now, Guns that the Dealers had engraved; were these also returned to S&W for Refinishing or done elsewhere?
opoefc
US Veteran
factory "engraved " guns of this period were delivered in the white to the engraver and then return to the factory for finishing and Roy will letter these guns as factory engraved, as S&W had no in house engraver at the time. In my experience, dealer engraved guns were also refinished by the dealer, although it would not surprise me to find documentation that S&W's distributor in NYC might have ordered some guns to be sent in the white for embellishment, etc. by them. Ed.
I would think that there were plenty of talented jewelers and engravers in NYC where many of these guns went being shipped to MW Robinson, S&W's east coast distributor. IIRC, some engraved guns were also adorned in gold and silver and that would certainly be more of a jewelers touch than that of the factory.
Weren't there even guns that were done by Tiffany's to be displayed at the world's fair in Chicago in the 1890's?
The Exposition drew a reported 27 million visitors and it was estimated that 25% of the US population attended. Certainly a huge audience for anything S&W.
Weren't there even guns that were done by Tiffany's to be displayed at the world's fair in Chicago in the 1890's?
The Exposition drew a reported 27 million visitors and it was estimated that 25% of the US population attended. Certainly a huge audience for anything S&W.
deadin
US Veteran
The 1 1/2 I pictured in post #4 lettered to M.W. Robinson. It has been attributed to Nimshke's shop with the frame engraving probably done by Nimshke himself and the cylinder and barrel done by one of his apprentices. (Apparently this was not uncommon.)
opoefc
US Veteran
Dean ...it has been attributed to Nimschke's shop...." By whom ? I don't see any pulls in Nimschke's record book that match this gun. Am I missing something ? Nimschke never used a dotted border in any of the pulls I have nor a non-overlapping scroll motif as shown on the side of the gun. It's true that his shop had several employees that apparently did the less elaborate areas of engraved items, but I seriously challenge whether Nimschke ever engraved part of this gun. Ed.
deadin
US Veteran
See my PM....
mmaher94087
Member
"See my PM...". I don't wish to start a range war here but "PM"s leave the rest of us out of the conversation. We (I) would all like to learn more. After 50+ years of collecting, I'm still learning about Smith & Wesson. May we be included?
opoefc
US Veteran
Dean, Saw your PM, and as noted, I respectively agree to disagree with the gentleman who has cited L.D.Nimschke as the engraver of the frame. Your gun's engraving was done by a talented journeyman engraver who may well have been an employee of Nimschke's shop. In my 75 yrs. of gun collecting I have examined and owned many samples of Nimschke's work and one developes a "gut" feeling for it over time and that has led me to disagree with the authority you have cited to me, although his bone fides are spectacular and his unsurpassed collection includes example purchased from me. Ed.
deadin
US Veteran
Mike,
Exactly what I was trying to avoid......
opoefc
US Veteran
Dean, No range war here! Just an interesting discussion based on factual experiences that we can all learn from. I call 'em as I see 'em ! No apologies for that! I learn new things all the time from this Forum and great collectors like yourself. Unfortunately , "lettering" a gun as Nimschke's work can only be an educated guess, unless the pulls are in his records, or a factory invoice shows delivery in the white to LDN for engraving and he initials the work as his. Few gun have that provenance. Ed.
deadin
US Veteran
Agreed! However when I have two very respected experts agree to disagree, where does that leave me??
I can dream can't I??
mmaher94087
Member
Thank you both. Unfortunately, I can't add anything to the discussion. Engraving and engravers identification is difficult for me.
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