Excellent Blued Smith & Wesson Number One 3rd Issue 22 Revolver

Serial #31698, .22 Rim Fire, 3 3/16 inch ribbed round barrel with a very fine plus mostly bright bore with some areas of light pitting and overall strong rifling. This is the Smith & Wesson model Number One 3rd Issue revolver manufactured from 1868-1881. The little antique revolver is in near excellent overall condition with the frame retaining about 94-96% of the original bright blue finish with some very mild flaking. The barrel and cylinder have mostly flaked to a pleasant gray-brown patina showing some scattered tiny dings and streaks of original bright blue. The hammer retains some wisps of case-hardened colors while the trigger and ejector rod are a medium gray case-hardened patina. The barrel markings remain crisp and the smooth rosewood grips remain in very fine condition retaining about 96% original varnish showing some light flaking and handling marks. Their fit is excellent, the right panel is properly stamp-numbered matching and the other numbered parts are matching by assembly number. Barrel-to-frame fit is excellent but the action will require some mechanical attention as the spring is broken so the cylinder will not lock up properly though the hammer cocks normally which is not uncommon for the delicate action of these revolvers. Antique