Antique CIVIL WAR Era SMITH & WESSON No. 1 .22 RF SILVER PLATED Revolver S&W’s ROLLIN WHITE “Bored Through Cylinder” Patent

Description:
Antique CIVIL WAR Era SMITH & WESSON No. 1 .22 RF SILVER PLATED Revolver  

S&W’s ROLLIN WHITE “Bored Through Cylinder” Patent

Here Ancestry Guns presents an antique Silver Plated Smith & Wesson Model No. 1, Second Issue Revolver, manufactured circa the Civil War era with a production run between 1860 to 1868 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The No. 1 was Smith & Wesson’s first metallic cartridge firearm. It utilized the idea of the “bored through cylinder”, which was patented by Rollin White and subsequently exclusively licensed by Smith & Wesson.

This concept has forever changed revolving firearms design, and is the same idea used in revolvers today. S&W, via Rollin White himself, aggressively sued any patent infringers and were able to hold their monopoly on the American market for cartridge revolvers from about 1857 to 1870, whereupon their patent expired. The results were a very profitable business, a broke Rollin White, and a grudging U.S. Chief of Ordnance Alexander Dyer, who was still angry in 1870 about not being able to use the technology during the Civil War. The U.S. government ended up giving Colt their contracts since they valued the larger .44 caliber in the Colt 1860 Armies over the .32 caliber full sized No. 2 Armies.

This small revolver is a 7-shot .22 rimfire. It was specifically designed to be a pocket gun, being very small and light. The No. 1 was the precursor to larger firearms that were simply scaled up to be more suitable for use as martial weapons. Though not a primary military arm during the American Civil War, handguns were commonly privately purchased by soldiers for use on the battlefield.

The overall condition is nearing fine. Original finish is preserved. The action functions, albeit with a weak return spring and a non-indexing cylinder. Excellent grips. Legible markings. Good bore for its age with serviceable rifling.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 3-1/4 inches.

Caliber:  .22 Rimfire

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

$1900

#259586
 

Antique: Yes

Price: $1,900.00
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