Lot 99
Smith & Wesson Springfield, Massachusetts Model 2 Old Model (Model 2 Army) revolver, 1861 (it looks like 1861 or 1864 as the patent date). Caliber: .32 6 inch barrel with blued finish, and Rosewood grips. Serial number: 60674 Type 7. The top of the barrel rib is marked "SMITH & WESSON SPRINGFIELD, MASS.". The serial number is marked on the butt. A full size pistol which utilized a .32 caliber bullet. Holding six copper cartridges, it had about the same power as the popular .36 cal. Colt Navy and like its smaller sibling was weatherproof. Introduced just a few months before Fort Sumter, it was an immediate hit as soldiers of all ranks and anxious civilians stood in line to buy them. Smith & Wesson brought out their Model 2 in 1861 just in time for the start of the Civil War. Gun-manufacturers of all kinds went into mass production of just about anything that shoots, and that included Smith & Wesson pistols. In fact it sold so well that S&W was forced to stop taking new orders in 1862 because they could not fill them. Because of its military associations the Model 2 quickly picked up the nickname Army or Old Army, even though it was never officially adopted by the military. While the Federals never bought any at least one state government, Kentucky, procured 2600 for its cavalry and mounted infantry units. High-ranking officers like Ambrose Burnside and George Custer rated fancy engraved specimens, but company officers and common soldiers appreciated them also. One Union private, William Phillips, often carried his while on patrol at Petersburg as a backup, boasting that I had a musket and a revolver that would take a man at 40 rods. I can hit a 3 inch ring 10 rods every time it carys copper cartridges and can be loaded in 15 seconds. The Model 2 remained in production until 1874 with over 77,000 being produced. Of the 77,000 made from 1861 to 1874, approximately half were made during the Civil War. Because the Model 2 was much bigger and more powerful pistol than the S&W Model One, the Model 2 was much more effective. After all, anything up from a .22 caliber ball had to be considered an improvement by those needing a more effective pistol. Well, believe it or not, the S&W Model 2 picked up the moniker of "Old Army" because of its popularity. It was just that popular. In fact, it was bought in very large quantities by Officers and Enlisted men alike during the Civil War as the sales numbers show. As with some other arms carried during the Civil War, many in the military's on both sides purchased their own arms so that they would be able to carry something other than the antiquated firearms being issued at the time. This tradition of going to war after purchasing your own weapons was carried on for many years even in the early 1900s. We describe all items to the best of our ability as we are not experts on everything. Please ask specific questions on details or condition prior to bidding, ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS. We box and ship to keep costs low. We do not use a packaging service, unless the costumer prefers us to use them. We can ship either USPS or UPS
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Dimensions:
- 6" barrel, 11" total length Condition:
- Very Good Condition with nice patina. Everything functions perfectly.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $49 | $5 |
| $50 | $99 | $5 |
| $100 | $199 | $10 |
| $200 | $499 | $25 |
| $500 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 + | $250 |