This is a nice Smith & Wesson Model One Revolvers that date to the beginning of the Civil War. Many of these early guns were purchased by civilians and soldiers alike. Being the first cartridge revolver to be manufactured in the United States and protected by the Rollin White patent, these little seven-shot revolvers proved to be reliable and easy to load. With the advent of fixed ammunition, another great benefit was that they were practically waterproof. However, they were not without their shortcomings, especially where power and accuracy were concerned. Mark Twain was a proud owner of one of these little guns and summed it up perfectly in Roughing It: "My brother had a Colt_s Navy revolver, which he carried uncapped for safety. Mister Beemis had an Allen pepper-box revolver. And I was armed to the teeth with a pitiful little Smith and Wesson seven-shooter, which shot a ball the size of a homeopathic pill. It took all seven to make a dose for an adult." This one is somewhat special though, being the less commonly seen deluxe version. For every 500 hundred standard guns, you might find only one or two with a factory original full silver plated finish and mother of pearl grips. Overall condition is NRA Antique Fine with 80-85% original silver plating. The majority of areas where the silver has flaked is on the iron components, particularly around the firing interfaces of the barrel and cylinder. The brass frame shows nearly all its original silver plate with losses confined to just the edges. Mother of Pearl grips are very solid with only slight chipping on the butt. German silver escutcheon. Action works nicely with a bright bore. Note: Sold as an antique collectible only.
