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firearmshistorian.bsky.social
... this gun's heft could do double duty as a sledgehammer. It was sold in the late 1860s and early 1870s.

Some of the distributors gave these guns curious names, with this gun nicknamed the "Bulldozer."

#antiqueguns #44rimfire #oldgun #oldguns #antiques
October 4, 2025 at 8:30 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
And check out those grips: the rare, eye-catching mottled hard rubber — a subtle detail that marks this revolver as something truly extraordinary.

#19thCenturyCraftsmanship #44Russian #AntiqueFirearms #AntiqueGun #AntiqueGuns #AntiqueRevolver #AntiqueRevolvers #Craftsmanship #DoubleActionRevolver
June 17, 2025 at 6:34 PM
pussygalores.bsky.social
Milestone Hit: Premier Firearms Auction Rakes in $1.5 Million – Antiques & The Arts Weekly

...#WinchesterCollectibles #FirearmsAuction #AntiqueGuns #HistoricFirearms #ColtRevolvers #GunCollectors #VintageAdvertising #MilestoneAuction #RareWeapons #WWIIWeapons #AmericanHistory #EngravedFirearms…
Milestone Hit: Premier Firearms Auction Rakes in $1.5 Million – Antiques & The Arts Weekly
...#WinchesterCollectibles #FirearmsAuction #AntiqueGuns #HistoricFirearms #ColtRevolvers #GunCollectors #VintageAdvertising #MilestoneAuction #RareWeapons #WWIIWeapons #AmericanHistory #EngravedFirearms #SemiAutomaticShotguns #AuctionHighlights #FirearmsEnthusiasts Milestone Auctions’ March 22-23 Premier Firearms Auction in Willoughby, Ohio, achieved a total of $1.55 million, featuring 1,187 antique, vintage, and modern firearms from renowned manufacturers such as Colt, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, and others. The sale catered to a wide range of collectors, offering everything from historic Old West Colts to rare World War II weapons and engraved shotguns.
pussygaloresemporium.com
April 21, 2025 at 5:45 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
A few 1sts for the 1st.

My research focuses on the Smith & Wesson Model 1. Here are six examples from 1857 to 1860. All in the old .22 black powder rimfire round.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #rimfire #22rimfire #oldgun #antiquegun #oldguns #antiqueguns #revolver #revolvers
January 1, 2025 at 10:05 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
Well, happy 168th birthday, Smith & Wesson! It's been a privilege to know you, and I look forward to many more.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #22rimfire #pewpew #antiquegun #antiqueguns #oldgun #oldguns #vintageammo
November 19, 2024 at 12:27 AM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
In 1876, Smith & Wesson released the .32 Single Action, which was meant to take the place of the aging Model 1 revolver.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #32sw #singleaction #antiquegun #antiqueguns #oldgun #oldguns #pewpew
September 28, 2024 at 10:13 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
In 1857, @smithandwessoninc made four revolvers. This is the only known survivor from that year.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #history #historyoftechnology #22rimfire #pewpew #oldgun #oldguns #antiquegun #antiqueguns #model1 #modelone #prototype
September 26, 2024 at 4:02 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
I stumbled across this box of .32 Long Colt at a small rural gun show this morning. Now I need a period correct revolver to go with it.

#gunhistorianproblems #32longcolt #oldguns #antiqueguns #oldrevolvers #antiquerevolvers #colt #coltrevolvers
August 18, 2024 at 9:42 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
Richard Bates Inshaw was one of the first engraver at Smith & Wesson. This is 1 of only a handful of his known engraved Model 1, 1st Issue revolvers.

#SmithWesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #engraved #engravedrevolver #fancyrevolver #oldguns #antiqueguns #oldrevolvers #antiquerevolvers
June 18, 2024 at 6:13 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
The Smith & Wesson Model 2 "Old Army" was curiously named, as it was never officially adopted by the military. This one dates to 1862 and saw hard use.

smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #model2 #32rimfire #antiquegun #antiqueguns #oldgun #oldguns #antiquerevolver #antiquerevolvers
May 31, 2024 at 11:21 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
Took this trio of Smith & Wesson Model 1s out this morning for a bit of fresh air. On the left is serial number 475, in the middle is 863, and on the right is 5.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #model1 #22blackpowder #antiqueguns #antiquerevolvers #oldguns #oldrevolvers #pewpew
May 30, 2024 at 2:20 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
Smith & Wesson released the .32 Safety Hammerless revolver in 1888. It was chambered in the diminutive .32 S&W centerfire cartridge.

Despite the name it *did* have a (concealed) hammer.

smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #32sw #rangetime #oldguns #antiqueguns #oldrevolvers
May 13, 2024 at 7:21 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
Look closely at the engraving on this Smith & Wesson Model 1 from 1862. What do you see?

The engraver's art was one of secret worlds.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #smithmodel1 #22rimfire #engraved #engraving #engravedgun #antiquerevolvers #antiqueguns #oldguns #oldrevolvers
May 10, 2024 at 1:05 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
Ever wonder when the Smith & Wesson J frame was born? Most people would say 1950 (and they'd be correct), but it was actually based on this Model of 1896 .32 Hand Ejector revolver.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #32swlong #32caliber #32revolver #antiqueguns #antiquerevolvers
May 3, 2024 at 9:00 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
For the firearms conferences I'm attending this year, I'm displaying this Smith & Wesson Model 1 revolver. It left the factory on April 12, 1859 and was sent to Joseph Storrs in New York City.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #oldguns #oldrevolvers #antiqueguns #antiquerevolvers
April 24, 2024 at 6:34 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
Long before Marlin Firearms was making lever action guns, they were making revolvers like this 1875 Pocket Revolver. Chambered in .32 rimfire, this two-digit serial number example was probably from the first production batch of guns.

#marlin #32rimfire #antiqueguns #antiquegun #oldguns
March 18, 2024 at 6:49 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
This revolver is known as the Smith & Wesson .38 Single Action, but it is more affectionately known to collectors as the "Baby Russian." It was chambered in .38 S&W.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #38sw #oldguns #antiqueguns #oldrevolver #antiquerevolver
February 14, 2024 at 11:55 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
The guns made by the Rollin White Arms Company were based on S&W's Model 1 and were reloaded by unscrewing the cylinder pin and removing the cylinder. It didn't make for fast reloads.
#blackpowder #antiquegun #antiqueguns #civilwar #civilwarhistory #smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner
February 13, 2024 at 10:56 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
Interpreting gun engraving is a complex art unto itself. This engraved Smith & Wesson Model 1 from 1876 was likely worked in the shop of Louis Daniel Nimschke.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #engravedgun #nimschke #oldguns #oldgun #antiquegun #antiqueguns
December 6, 2023 at 3:27 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
This pistol was made by Stephen Odell of Natchez, Mississippi. He was born in New York and setup shop in Mississippi in the early 1840s.

#oldgun #oldguns #antiquegun #antiqueguns #natchez #natchezms #natchezmississippi #oldguncollecting #antiqueguncollecting #muzzleloader #percussioncap
November 7, 2023 at 10:54 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
Like all major manufacturers, S&W would occasionally make a gun that functioned fine and had a cosmetic blemish. In the 1860s these were stamped "2D QUAL'TY" on the barrel and sold at a discount.

#smithwesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #modelone #oldgun #oldguns #antiquegun #antiqueguns
October 18, 2023 at 7:25 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
This revolver bedevils me.

Looks like a S&W tip ups like the Model 1 or 1½. Probably European given the proof marks on it. Chambered in .32 rimfire.

Only marks on it are "IB", "35", and "Patent No 402".

Any ideas?

#MysteryGun #antiquegunhistory #antiqueguns #oldgunhistory #oldgun #oldguns
The left side of the unknown revolver, circa 1860. The right side of the unknown revolver, circa 1860. The barrel markings of the unknown revolver, circa 1860. A cylinder proof mark on the unknown revolver, circa 1860.
August 29, 2023 at 7:28 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
The Connecticut Arms Hammond Breech-Loading Pistol is one of those great firearms oddities. Made in #Naubuc, Connecticut, it weighted in at over 1.5 lbs and held a single .44 rimfire round.

#oldguns #antiqueguns #oldguncollecting #antiqueguncollecting #connecticutarms #pewpew #44rimfire #heavymetal
A Connecticut Arms Hammond Breech-Loading Pistol in .44 rimfire. Breech details of a Connecticut Arms Hammond Breech-Loading Pistol in .44 rimfire.
August 25, 2023 at 6:55 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
This American Standard Tool Company seven shot, .22 rimfire revolver from about 1870 looked identical to the Smith & Wesson Model 1. It has a somewhat more robust hinge and cylinder stop than its Smith & Wesson counterpart.

#oldguns #antiqueguns #SmithWesson #SmithAndWesson #smithandwessonpartner
An American Standard Tool Company seven shot revolver in .22 rimfire from about 1870. Barrel details of an American Standard Tool Company seven shot revolver in .22 rimfire from about 1870. The underside of an American Standard Tool Company seven shot revolver in .22 rimfire from about 1870.
August 24, 2023 at 4:22 PM
firearmshistorian.bsky.social
This Smith & Wesson Model 1, 3rd Issue shipped from the factory in April 1873 and was probably engraved by L. D. Nimschke in New York City. In 1956 it was burgled from its owner, and the grip was damaged.

#SmithWesson #smithandwesson #smithandwessonpartner #smithmodel1 #oldguns #antiqueguns
An engraved Smith & Wesson Model 1, 3rd Issue revolver from 1873. The 1956 evidence tag from a stolen Smith & Wesson Model 1 revolver.
August 23, 2023 at 3:38 PM