Lot 11

Factory Mint Smith & Wesson 44 Double Action 1st Model Revolver

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Factory Mint Smith & Wesson 44 Double Action 1st Model Revolver

Estimate: $10,000 - $18,000

Starting Bid: $9,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Remarkable Factory Mint Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action First Model Revolver with Factory Letter Smith & Wesson's revolver's have been innovative from the very beginning and the introduction of their .22 caliber Model No. 1 revolvers. Their control of the Rollin White patent gave them a virtual monopoly on early metallic cartridge revolver production in the United States into the early 1870s when they introduced their line of centerfire revolvers. The Smith & Wesson .44 Double Action First Model was the company's first large caliber double action revolver and was introduced in 1881. It is one of the classic revolvers of the American West in the late 19th century, including use by Belle Star, John Wesley Hardin, and Constable John Selman. They were also owned by influential American military leaders such as General Leonard Wood and Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. Smith & Wesson's popular single action revolvers, Colt's Model 1877, and several other American revolver designs created intense competition, leading to limited production, and only 54,668 of these First Models were manufactured. They remain particularly hard to acquire high condition, let alone in near factory new condition. The included factory letter indicates this exceptional example was shipped on November 28, 1902, to Edward K. Tryon Company at 817-819 Arch Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a 6 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and checkered black hard rubber grips. "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 5th Edition" by Supica and Nahas states: "Although cataloged into the 20th century, all frames were manufactured before 1899, making this gun an antique." The revolver features a pinned half-moon blade front sight, the two-line address and patent marking on the top of the rib, "-44 S. & W. CTG.-" on the left side of the barrel, a small notch rear sight on the barrel latch, matching serial numbers marked on the barrel, barrel latch, ejector, cylinder, and butt; the S&W trademark on the right side, blued finish aside from the casehardened hammer and trigger, and checkered walnut grips with the right grip numbered "11401".

Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson

Model: 44 Double Action

BBL: 6 1/2 inch solid rib

Gauge: 44 Russian

Finish: blue

Grips: walnut

Serial Number49502

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Mint with 98% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish, 99% vibrant original case colors, a few patches of flaking with dark brown patina and light drag lines on the cylinder, and otherwise generally only minimal light handling and storage marks. The grips are also excellent with crisp checkering, attractive grain, and faint storage marks. Mechanically excellent. It will be near impossible to find a better example of Smith & Wesson's iconic first large caliber double action revolver.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000