295

Stunning Cased & Nimschke Engraved S&W No. 3 Second Model Rimfire American Shipped To Wexel Degress

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:18,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Stunning Cased & Nimschke Engraved S&W No. 3 Second Model Rimfire American Shipped To Wexel Degress
CURRENT BID
0.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
ENTER YOUR MAXIMUM ABSENTEE BID[?]
You must bid at least
18,000.00USD
USD
18,000.00 x 1 unit = 18,000.00USDApplicable fees & taxes are added at checkout.
[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2024 Nov 23 @ 09:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
serial #12873, 44 Henry RF, 8" barrel with a very good plus bore that is mostly bright with one area of light pitting. This revolver is beautifully embellished and remains in a very fine state of preservation. The revolver features full coverage scroll engraving on the frame, the barrel shows perhaps 75% coverage and the cylinder shows scroll between each flute. While the gun is not signed by Nimschke, there are several treatments on the gun that were favored by him. The frame is engraved in a shell pattern around the hinge pin, a pattern often used by Nimschke, the barrel lug showing the same treatment. The sides of the topstrap show a crosshatch pattern found on Nimschke guns and the backstrap shows wavy line motifs he often used. The top of the topstrap at the latch shows another shell motif, his fingerprints are all over the gun. The frame and barrel show 97% original nickel plated finish which remains quite bright with loss coming due to some light flaking along the edges of the barrel rib. The cylinder shows a bit more flaking with perhaps 80% remaining and with the exposed metal appearing just a bit darker than the finish making the loss quite unobtrusive. The revolver wears a pair of period mother-of-pearl grips which rate excellent with a couple small chips on the right panel toward the bottom of the grip. The grips show proper age with a slightly dull surface that still shows some nice iridescence. The revolver is housed in a correct mahogany case that remains in very fine to near excellent condition showing some light dings and scuffs along the exterior. The interior is lined in red baize that shows mild wear and contains a complement of nice original accessories including an empty ammunition tin, eight loose 44 RF cartridges, pewter oiler, key and a slightly later vintage Goodell-Pratt Co. pocket turnscrew with four different attachments. The included factory letter shows this revolver was one of 500 Rimfire Americans shipped on August 3rd, 1872 to Wexel & DeGress in New York City. Wexel & DeGress had offices in New York and Mexico City with their main focus being on the Mexican trade. The guns in this shipment were 8" blued guns and Pate's ''Smith & Wesson American Model'' references correspondence from Smith & Wesson to W&D stating that the revolvers would be delivered in time to make the steamer ship which was departing for Mexico on the 8th of August. This revolver was obviously pulled from the shipment and sent for engraving. These rimfire revolvers were being produced at a time when production was fully focused on centerfire revolvers but with the number of 1866 Winchesters in Mexico and the subsequent availability of 44 Henry RF ammunition, Smith & Wesson made these revolvers on special order for Wexell & Degress. This revolver was very likely embellished to be used as a gift to an influential Mexican to further Wexel & DeGress's robust business in the country. High condition period engraved Smith & Wesson American revolvers are extremely rare and coveted by collectors. This one being in a rimfire configuration and almost certainly destined for Mexico simply puts it on another level. A truly wonderful, investment quality Smith & Wesson American. (1F10826-545) {ANTIQUE} [Dr. W. Lloyd Hudson Collection] (25,000/35,000)