Smith & Wesson No. 1 3rd Issue Blued

This is a good little Number One Third Issue Smith and Wesson revolver.   The 3rd Issue was the final revision of S&W's original .22 caliber tip-up revolver...which was the first American cartridge revolver.   Unlike its older brothers, the 1st and 2nd Issue revolver, which had brass frames plated with silver, the 3rd issue used an iron frame that was either blued or nickel plated.   The earlier style square grips were changed to a rounded birdshead style and the barrel and cylinder were given a more streamlined appearance with flutes for the cylinder, and barrel changed from octagon to round.   The end result was one of the most attractive S&W's ever built...at least in my opinion.   While the first and second issues shared the same serial range from 1857-1868, 3rd issues built from 1868-1881 are not consecutive and start from 1 in their own range up to 131,000.   This one is in the 47,000 range and would estimate its date of production to fall within the first half of the 1870's.

Overall condition grades to NRA Antique Fine.   The frame has 85% bright original blue.  Even the grip straps have most all their original blue.  Hammer has 75% case colors with some faded shadows of colors remaining on the ejector rod.   Barrel and cylinder have mostly flaked which is common on various models of S&W's but especially common on blued-finish guns.  The cylinder is grey turning to brown.   Barrel shows 10-15% original in protected areas along the rib and latch area.  My personal and completely un-scientifically-backed opinion is this "flaking" phenomenon on the barrel and cylinders of S&W's was in some way linked to heat expansion of the metal...most likely associated with repeated firing.   My guess is the frame's being further away, or at least indirectly away from the heat generated from firing is the main reason why we tend to find them with considerably more original blue.  Just imagine how hot such a thin barrel and cylinder would become on a 7-shooter revolver firing through a box of 50 or perhaps 100 shells.  Furthermore, if this flaking was due solely to hand prints or wear from rubbing, then high wear areas such as the iron back strap would certainly show similar losses of original blue, wouldn't they?   That's not to say they wouldn't wear anyway from some degree of handling...but this gun is a pretty good example that points to the contrary.   Look at the photos and notice that the grip straps are still as nice as the frame with almost all their original blue intact.  Thus, I feel this has a little more to do with heat than simply finger prints or wear.   That said, to find a 1st, 3rd Issue blue S&W or even a Schofield or New Model Number 3 with all its barrel and cylinder blue, you're basically going to have to find one that's unfired or where the owner fired no more than a few rounds at a time.   Getting back to this gun's description...   The action is in nice working condition with a Good bore.  Good+ to Very Good screws overall.  Nice markings with the Springfield Address and 1855, '59, and '60 patent dates on top of the barrel rib.   The Rosewood grips retain 75-80% original varnish with perfect wood-to-metal fit.   No chips or cracks.   A nice example of a very attractive S&W tip-up revolver.

Item# 1128

SOLD