This is a beautiful example of an early Civil War production S&W No. 2 Army Revolver in .32 Rimfire. This particular gun is in the 13,000 serial range so it's well within S&W's Civil War production range. Comes with a Factory Letter stating it's from the factory on June 15, 1863, just three weeks before the battle of Gettysburg. It went to J. Storrs in New York (Smith & Wesson's only distributor from 1857-1869). Bottom of the grips have a soldier's name. Standard configuration with 6" octagonal barrel, blued finish, and rosewood grips. The No. 2 was the largest revolver S&W produced during its early formative years and they were quite popular with soldiers during the Civil War. The Company built approx. 77,000 from 1860-1873 with the first 35,000 mfd. during the Civil War.
Overall condition grades to NRA Antique Fine Plus to the low end of Excellent. For 161 years old, it's in pretty good shape, especially for something produced at the height of the Civil War. The frame has 95% bright original blue while the cylinder has 80% bright blue 70% blue on the barrel which ranges from bright in in the protected areas to faded along the barrel flats. The case colors on the hammer, ejector rod, and trigger have faded mostly to grey/silver. Excellent screws and pins throughout. Excellent markings include S&W barrel address on top rib and tiny patent dates, 1855-1859-1860, around the circumference of the cylinder. Excellent rosewood grips show 95% bright piano varnish. There is a name probably of the soldier who carried this gun scratched in the varnish along the base of the grips. His first name is difficult to read (Maybe "Jack #" but his last name is definitely "Lacey". 100% all matching assembly numbers on back of barrel, front face of cylinder, and on frame underneath grips. Grips have matching serial number to the gun as well. This is a very nice No. 2 Army! Excellent mechanics throughout with tight barrel to frame fit. Bore is Excellent.
Item# i520
SOLD
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