Smith & Wesson Model 1
Smith & Wesson · Revolver · Discontinued · 1857
Also known as: S&W Model No. 1, Smith & Wesson Model No. 1
Overview
The Smith & Wesson Model 1 is a single-action, tip-up revolver and the first firearm produced by Smith & Wesson. Introduced in 1857, it was the first commercially successful revolver to use a fully self-contained metallic rimfire cartridge, the newly developed .22 Short, fired from a seven-shot bored-through cylinder. The frame tips up at the top strap so the cylinder can be removed for loading and the spur trigger has no trigger guard. Its design exploited Rollin White's bored-through cylinder patent, giving Smith & Wesson a near-monopoly on cartridge revolvers in the United States until 1869. Demand surged during the American Civil War as soldiers bought the compact revolver as a personal sidearm.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 312 g (11.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Barrel Length | 81 mm (3.19") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Trigger Pull | 13 N (2.9 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 210 m/s (689 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 42 J (31 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 10 m (11 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 3 |
| Frame Material | Brass |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .22 Short · primary — also known as .22 Short, .22 Rimfire
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Tip Up Barrel, Spur Trigger, Single Action, Bored Through Cylinder, Fixed Sights
Variants
- Smith & Wesson Model 1 First Issue - Early Production
- Smith & Wesson Model 1 Second Issue - Production
- Smith & Wesson Model 1 Third Issue - Late Production
Service history
Operators
- American Civil War soldiers (private purchase) · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 250,000 · Production years: 1857-1882
Combined total across First, Second, and Third Issues
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Horace Smith, Daniel B. Wesson, Rollin White (cylinder patent)
Discontinued: 1882
Notes
Produced in three issues between 1857 and 1882 with numerous variants; roughly 250,000 were made in total. The First Issue had a flat-sided frame, the Second a more rounded frame, and the Third a fluted cylinder with a round barrel.
Background
The Model 1 launched both Smith & Wesson and the metallic-cartridge revolver. By securing Rollin White's patent for a bored-through cylinder, the partners controlled cartridge-revolver production in the US for over a decade, forcing competitors like Colt to wait until the patent expired in 1869.