What is this? Patent Date Apr 2 1855

[RANGERRON72]

An old friend in his late 70's whose father collected guns in New York, gave me this to research. Barrel marked SMITH & WESSON PAT'D APR 2 1855 & JULY 5 1859

88 is on the bottom of the backstrap frame.
Caliber seems to be .31 or so.

What is this? Pictures attached. What is it worth? TIA for your insight. Needless to say I am not a S&W collector.....

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[mrcvs]

You have a Model 1 1/2First Issue and the caliber is .32 Rimfire.

 

[glowe]

Welcome to the Forum. As stated above it is a very early Smith & Wesson Model 1 1/2 revolver that started manufacrure right at the end of the Civil War. Your serial number was 88, probably manufactured in 1865. the Model 1 /2 ammuniton was 32 Long Rimfire which has not been manufactured for many years.

As for value, there is not much there. The broken stock and the hinge pin being a rivet instead of a screw as originals had. If it was sold at auction, $200 would be very high estimate of final sale price.

 

[BMur]

Patent info

Pretty famous patent. Applied for by Rollin White and partnered with Smith & Wesson regarding the bored through cylinder as applied to a " revolver". Maintained ownership until 1869 when the patent expired. Several revolvers manufactured based on this patent and in fact lawsuits that took place during the Civil War.

Murph