S&W No.2 ARMY, NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED, CHECKERED IVORY with SNAKE & EAGLE CAMEO, TWO PAGE FACTORY LETTER

THIS No. 2 .32 LONG 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 RIM FIRE. IN TODAY,S WORLD OF FIREARMS IT SEEMS UNDER POWERED, 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 OVER .22 WAS QUICKLY WELCOMED. IT QUICKLY BECAME A REVOLVER IN THE CIVIL WAR AND MANY OFFICERS CARRIED THEM . IT ALSO EARNED A REPUTATION AMONG THE EARLY “PISTOLERO’S” LIKE HICKOK AND COLORFUL CHARACTERS LIKE GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER. THIS No.2 , SERIAL No. 3197x GAVE INSIGHT  INTO THE EARLY WORKINGS OF S&W. THIS No.2 SHIPPED ON DECEMBER 26, 1864, TO J.W. STORRS, NYC INTERESTING BECAUSE J.W. STORRS WAS THE ONLY DISTRIBUTOR AND SELLER OF THE LINE OF S&W REVOLVERS JOSEPH W. STORRS MAINTAINED CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS  WITH POTENTIAL BUYERS AND YES ! ENGRAVERS. IN FACT S&W  PREFERRED TO HAVE STORRS HANDLE ALL SPECIAL ORDERS FOR WORK. STORRS  HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH L.D. NIMSCHKE AND OTHER PERIOD ENGRAVERS. J.W. STORRS COMMISSIONED NIMSCHKE  TO DO THE ENGRAVING ON THIS No.2  INCLUDING THE CHECKERED IVORY GRIPS WITH SNAKE & EAGLE CAMEO .THIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WOULD CARRY ON EVEN AFTER DEATEH, AS Ms. STORR  MARRIED A M.W. ROBINSON THE NEW DISTRIBUTOR  BECAME STORRS & ROBINSON. ENDING UP AS M.W.ROBINSON NYC THIS ACCOUNTED FOR S&W’S WORLD WIDE SALES SUCCESSS. THIS No.2 STILL HAS STRONG ENGRAVING PRESENT, SHOWING NORMAL WEAR FOR 160 YEARS, BUT CLEARLY PRESENT THE OVERALL FINISH IS A PLEASING GRAY PATINA. THE GRIPS ARE COLOSSAL, RIGHT PATINA, COLOR AND NO DAMAGE WITH SHARP CHECKERING AND SNAKE & EAGLE CAMEO. MECHANICALLY THIS No.2 FUNCTIONS  100% AS IT DID IN 1864 IT HAS THE 6 INCH BARREL,  MAKING FOR A STRONG OVERALL APPEARANCE  WITH THE OTHER FEATURES.  THIS No.2 HAS BEEN IN A COLLECTION FOR MANY DECADES, JUST RECENTLY  APPPEARING FOR PURCHASE. LAST NOTE: IT STILL HAS A PERFECTLY CLEAR ONE LINE PATENT ROLL DIE AROUND CENTER OF CYLINDER.  A REAL PLUS ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER FEATURES A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ANTIQUE ARMS COLLECTORS GOING BACK TO THE EARLY PERIOD OF 1860’S