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2012 Blue Press 2012 Blue Press 10/15/12 9:16 AM Page 20 December 2012 Blue Press_2012 Blue Press 10/15/12 9:16 AM Page 20 20 LASSIC ANDGUNS By John Marshall C of Hthe frame and tipped or swiveled: the The hinged Smitho & Wesson Model 1 The Smith & Wesson Model 1 revolver, first of- barrel upward. Then the cylinder was removed, l fered in 1857, was a landmark handgun in more reversed, and the individual cases were poked out i ways than one. It was the very first Smith & Wesson of it by impinging each chamber in turn on the w revolver, and it also introduced the first .22 rimfire ejector rod under the barrel. Awkward and slow, s cartridge, which was patented earlier by S&W in but it did work. The hammer actuated a spring- f 1854. That ammunition is still made today and is loaded cylinder stop located above the cylinder to u known as the .22 Short. These tiny revolvers were permit it to rotate, index and lock in place for fir- t revolutionary when first introduced, and they are ing. A small circular plate on the left side of the 1 collector classics today. brass frame allowed access to the lockwork. The 1 Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson had early flat release latch was soon replaced with a m formed their first partnership in 1852. They were dual-button latch that was pushed upward to b involved in manufacturing a number of guns, no- allow the barrel to be swiveled up. The barrel was t tably lever-action pistols and rifles using self-con- stamped with the S&W name on top, and the m tained caseless cartridges. That same lever-action non-fluted cylinder had markings reflecting the I “Volcanic” operating system ultimately morphed patent dates. The barrel measured 3-3/16” long. c into the Henry and then the Winchester Models The curved convex brass frame was usually silver 1866 and 1873 rifles. In the middle 1850s, Wesson plated, with a blued cylinder and barrel, had begun work on a small re- volver to use their new .22 rim- fire cartridge. The cylinder was bored clear through with cham- bers designed to accept these cartridges from the rear. In inves- tigating the possibilities for patenting for his invention, Wesson discovered an existing patent by one Rollin White, a former Colt employee, which covered a revolver with a cylin- der bored through end to end. In October of 1856, Wesson wrote to White, expressing interest in using his patent. On November 17, 1856, both They were small Wesson and Smith met with White in person and sealed a deal. This agreement gave Smith and Wes- son an exclusive license to manufacture a revolver guns, and really not using the White patent. White was to receive a roy- alty of 25 cents per handgun produced during the all that effective. Famous active patent period, which was to expire in 1872. With the White patent secured, Mr. Wesson and Mr. Smith set up a new partnership, the Smith mountain man Jim Bridger once & Wesson Revolver Factory, based in Springfield, Massachusetts. Wesson contributed the grand sum remarked,remarked “ “ “Yep,Yep,Yep, I’ve I’veI’ve seen seenseen that thatthat kind, kind,kind, but butbut of $2003.63, and Smith pitched in with $1646.68. By 1857, only four revolvers had been produced, and White was richer for that accom- never handledhandledhandled ‘em. ‘em.‘em. I IwasI waswas afeared afearedafeared I’d I’dI’d break breakbreak it.” itit.”.” plishment by one dollar. Soon, however, the wheels of industry began to roll at S&W, and a Still, thethe littlelittle guns guns launched launched Smith Smith & & Wesson Wesson company was moving to become an eventual leg- Still, the little guns launched Smith & Wesson end in the firearms world. That first revolver came to be listed as the butas was a laterpowerhouse availableas afully powerhouse plated. firearmsThis first issue firearmsmanufacturer.t manufacturer. Model 1, although originally only the .22 car- revolver was manufactured with minor changes h tridge carried that name. Initially, the gun was along the way from 1857 through 1860. Serial t known in the factory as the “Seven Shooter,” but it numbers of all variations on this first issue ran s soon acquired the name of the cartridge it fired. from 1 through 11,671. The little gun sold to deal- p Today, that first version is classified by modern ers for $12.75, and the dealers could also pur- a day collectors as the Model 1, First Issue. It was a chase a $1.25 Gutta Percha presentation case, f small “tip up” revolver that had a spur trigger and embossed on its lid with an image of its contents y a square butt. A single-action design, it had to be or a heraldic “stand of flags” design. cocked each time to fire successive shots. To re- These first issue guns were somewhat difficult d load, the user pulled down on a flat latch in front to manufacture, and required careful hand fitting t .
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