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ENGRAVED PRESENTATION SMITH & WESSON 1ST MODEL 3RD ISSUE REVOLVER

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
ENGRAVED PRESENTATION SMITH & WESSON 1ST MODEL 3RD ISSUE REVOLVER
ENGRAVED PRESENTATION SMITH & WESSON 1ST MODEL 3RD ISSUE REVOLVER. Cal. 22 Short. Beautiful little revolver with 3-1/4” bbl, factory engraved with about 75% coverage foliate, arabesque and geometric patterns. The frame and bbl are nickel-plated with the cylinder and ejector pin gold-plated. The backstrap is inscribed in period engraving “Fanny Sweet/New Orleans” and has real pearl grips. It is accompanied by a Smith & Wesson Gutta Percha case with the revolver on the top and purple velvet lining with the cartridge block containing 49 rounds of copper-cased 22 short ammunition. It also has its original wire wiping rod. It is also accompanied by a copy of a book page describing Fanny Sweet as the most colorful of all the Madames in New Orleans. It states that she was a thief, a lesbian, a Confederate spy, a poisoner, a procuress and a brawler who was guided by the “Queen of Voodoo”, Marie LaVeau. Although Fanny was accused of various crimes, she apparently was never convicted and retired in 1889 and died in 1895 in Pensacola, Florida at about the age of 65. It is further accompanied by a colorful red, green and yellow garter with rhinestones, purported to be from Fanny Sweet. The set was purchased for very little money from a pawnshop in Little Rock, AR many years ago. SN 113597. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Retains most of its original nickel plating and about 75% of its gold plating on the cylinder. Grips are fine and bright and it has a strong bore with moderate pitting, good mechanics. The box is fine with a couple of hairlines on the edge of the lid, a couple more in the bottom corner. The lining in the lid is fine and faded in the bottom. The bore is strong with moderate pitting. A very interesting set that perhaps a little more research in New Orleans would add to the information about Fanny Sweet. 4-49155 JR263