L.D. Nimschke Engraved , Checkered Ivory with Eagle & Snake Cameo, S&W No.2 Army .32long RF

THIS REVOLVER REPRESENTED A MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR SMITH & WESSON. INTRODUCED IN 1861. PRIOR TO THIS  THE ONLY SELF CONTAINED CARTRIDGE OFFERING  WAS THE MODEL 1, .22 R RIM FIRE. IN TODAY’S WORLD OF FIREARMS IT SEEMS UNDERPOWERED, BUT IN 1861 IT WAS A SPECTACULAR INNOVATION. NO LONGER DID YOU NEED TO CARRY LOOSE BLACK POWDER, LEAD BALLS, AND THE INVOLVED PROCESS OF LOADING. THE WEATHER NOW BECAME WAY LESS OF A PROBLEM ! THE IMPROVED SIZE AND POWER OF THE .32 LONG RIM FIRE OVER THE .22 RIM FIRE WAS QUICKLY WELCOMED. IT QUICKLY BECAME A REVOLVER IN THE CIVIL WAR, WITH MANY OFFICERS CARRYING THEM. IT ALSO EARNED A REPUTATION AMONG THE “EARLY PISTOLEER’S ”  HICKOKAND COLORFUL CHARACTERS LIKE GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER. THIS No.2, SERIAL No.3197x GVE INSIGHT INTO THE EEARLY WORKINGS  OF S&W. CONTAINED IN THE TWO PAGE FACTORY LETTER, SHIPPED ON DECEMBER 26, 1864, TO J.W. STORRS, NYC. INTERESTING BECAUSE, STORRS WAS THE ONLYDISTRIBUTOR AND SELLER OF  THE S&W LINE OF REVOLVERS. JOSEPH W. STORRS,  MAINTAINED CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS, WITH POTENTIAL BUYERS, AND YES, ENGRAVERS. IN FACTS&W PREFERRED TOHAVE STORRS HANDLE ALLSPECIAL ORDERS FOR WORK. STORRS HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH L. D. NIMSCHKE AND SOME OF THE OTHER PERIOD ENGRAVERS.STORRS COMMISSIONED NIMSCHKE TO DO THE ENGRAVING ON THIS No.2 , INCLUDING THE DELUXE CHECKERED iVORY gRIPS, WITH SNAKE & EAGLE CAMEO ON GRIP. THIS CLOSE RELATION SHIP WOULD CONTINUE BEYOND DEATH AS Ms STORRS MARRIED M.W. ROBINSON. THE NEW DISTRIBUTOR BECAME STORRS & ROBINSON, FINISHING AS M.W. ROBINSON, NYC. THIS ACCOUJTED FOR S&W’S WORLD WIDE SUCCESS. THIS No.2 STILL HAS  STRONG ENGRAVING PRESENT, SHOWING NORMAL WEAR OF 160 YEARS, BUT CLEARLY PRESENT! THE OVERALL FINISH IS A PLEASING GRAY PATINA. THE GRIPS ARE Colossal with the right patina color and no damage with sharp checkering and Eagle and Snake Cameo MECHANICALLY THIS No2 AS IT DID IN 1864. IT HAS THE 6 INCH BARREL, MAKING FOR A STRONG OVERALL APPEARANCE WITH ALL THE OTHER FEATURES. THE CYLINDER STILL HAS A CLEAR AND PRESENT ONE LINE PATENT ADDRESS ROLL. ANOTER PLUS OF THIS REVOLVER. THIS No.2 HAS BEEN IN COLLECTION FOR A LONG TERM, ONLY JUST NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. A GREAT ITEM FOR THE ANTIQUE ARMS COLLECTOR.