Smith & Wesson Model 1 1/2 Second Issue .32 RF Pocket Revolver $1700$1700
1.3Kviews•3 days ago
Please text anytime 6476871484. Fully functional compact revolver in like new ready to shoot condition.
NO PAL required.
Smith & Wesson Model 1 1/2 Second Issue .32 RF Pocket Revolver
This second issue S&W pocket revolver is nickel plated . The nickel is bright without the typical yellow hue from age. It is very well done. The markings and serial number are crisp, and there is no dishing around the screws, or rounding of the edges. It is in excellent mechanical condition, with a strong, accurate action and properly indexing and locking cylinder. The hinge is strong and tight. The rosewood grips are also excellent and undamaged. The case colors on the hammer and trigger are well visible. The bore of the 3 1/2 inch barrel is excellent and bright, with sharp rifling and no single dark spots and excellent as refinished.
History & Background
Smith and Wesson began in 1858 with their First Model, a small .22 caliber revolver, with a seven-shot capacity. It was S&W’s first cartridge gun, which used their proprietary .22 rim fire cartridge. They soon realized that, although a popular little gun, it was hopelessly underpowered and largely ineffective as a protective device. A few years later the company introduced the much larger Second Model, which would become known as the “Old Model Army”. It was chambered for the significantly more powerful .32 long rim fire cartridge and was used by many soldiers and officers as a back-up gun during the civil war. Wanting to capitalize on its popularity and effectiveness, the company decided to introduce a slightly smaller framed version of the No. 2, and called it the Model 1 1/2. The “First Issue” came out in 1865 and looks almost identical to the No. 2. It has an octagonal barrel, square butt grips, unfluted cylinder, and bottom-mounted cylinder stop. In 1868 the “Second Issue”, a more “modern” looking gun was introduced. It had a round barrel, fluted cylinder, birds head grips and the cylinder stop mounted on top of the frame. It would remain in production until 1875. Of the model 1 1/2 26,300 were of the “First Issue” design while 100,800 were of the “Second Issue” variation.