4227 RARE JAPANESE EXPORTED SMITH & WESSON NO. 2 ARMY

SOLD
1,000.00USD
This item SOLD at 2024 Nov 03 @ 14:56UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 400.00 USD
Estimated at 800.00 - 1,200.00 USD
REVOLVER. Cal. 32. S# 55669. Standard configuration, 6" barrel, one line address, patent marked cylinder. This revolver has carved Japanese kanji markings on both grips with original inset red lacquer which translate: "Yamaguchi prefecture, Meji 64th year" and "number 361 year of the tiger or year of the boar on the opposite grip". This revolver is pictured and described in November 2006 Gun Report article by Mike Bricker. An unknown quantity of these revolvers were exported to Japan 1868-1870. Strict government registration laws are the reason for different markings depending on the particular prefecture, the kanji carved in the grips is most unusual, most examples are marked in the metal. Japanese shipped revolvers are quite rare today. The Japanese liked this pattern revolver, and Japanese made copies are known. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: file of research & copy of November 2006 Gun Report article "Some Early Smith and Wesson Export Revolvers". CONDITION: good very to good overall, complete & matching, traces of blue finish in protected areas, overall brown/gray patina, markings all discernible including carved kanji. Mechanically fine, crisp rifled bore. PROVENANCE: Lifelong Collection of Robert "Mike" Bricker. (01-24967/JS). ANTIQUE. $800-1,200.