This Presentation pair of Smith & Wesson No. 1 Small Frame Repeating Pistols are cased and deluxe engraved by Andrew Wurfflein of Philadelphia c. 1855. The grips on both pistols are inlaid with gold-plated oval panels. The panel on the right grip of pistol serial number "E53" is inscribed "PRESENTED/-BY-/Jos. Patterson" and the panel on the left grip of the pistol is inscribed "PHILADELPHIA". There is no inscription on the panel on the grips of pistol serial number "E89". The pistols are engraved with dense scrollwork and cross hatching on a stippled background with detailed borders. The engraving covers all of the pistol frames, the sides and top of the hammers, bottom of the loading levers, round portions of the barrels and sides of the magazines. The left barrel flat of pistol E53 is inscribed: "REMODDLED BY" and the right flat is inscribed: "A. WURFFLEIN/PHILA". Wurfflein's warranty cards are present on the bottom of two case compartments. Andrew Wurfflein (1807-1872) was a prominent Philadelphia gunmaker who specialized in high quality percussion rifles and derringer type percussion pistols. Wurfflein made a number of high quality presentation rifles and pistols in the 1850s and 1860s. This pair of "remodeled" S&W No. 1 may also shed light on a very famous and controversial pair of Colt Dragoons known as the "Van Syckel Dragoons" (reference The Colt Book of Engraving Vol. I pg. 33 & 34 by Wilson), which were in large part catalyst to some of R.L. Wilson's legal trouble. The "Van Syckel Dragoons" were speculated to be Belgian made and embellished "brevets", expert witnesses would specifically cite an unidentified "part" being handmade or "chiseled" and the atypical engraving pattern as the "smoking gun". Mr. Wilson and others never marketed the pair as products of the Colt engraving shop but were resolute in their belief that they were in fact Colt 2nd Model Dragoons. The writer believes this pair of No. 1 Smith's may shed light on that controversy, as the similarities of embellishment and finish are uncanny: the blue and brown finishes, the case color, engraving, casing, the grips and gold grip escheuon. We believe it more than plausible, in fact highly likely, that the "Van Syckel Dragoons" were in fact "Remodeled" by Andrew Wurfflein, around the same exact period, and were indeed Colt products. Hand fit and finishing for a gunmaker as accomplished as Andrew Wurfflein would have been elementary and probably a necessity once the "remodel" process was underway. These Smith's are well documented and illustrated and described on pages 86-87 of "VOLCANIC FIREARMS" by Lewis and Rutter. The description states in part: "The quality of the engraving, and the full coverage, far exceeds that of other Smith & Wesson pistols and is of a style not found on their other engraved firearms, even on their presentation or exhibition rifles and pistol carbines". Lewis and Rutter suggest that the engraving may have been executed by Richard Bates Inshaw of Springfield, Massachusetts, but the inscription of pistol E53 and the warranty cards in the pistol case make it more likely that the pistols were engraved by Andrew Wurfflein, who executed very high quality engraving on some of his firearms. These Type II pistols have part-round/part-octagon barrels with integral six-shot magazines, crowned muzzles and rounded T-bar springs. Both pistols have round, steel, clam-shell shaped magazine followers. Pistol E53 has a steel pinch-back-back front sight and E89 has a brass cone front sight. The top barrel flat of pistol E53 is roll-stamped: "SMITH & WESSON/NORWICH. CT." in two lines. "PATENT/FEB. 14. 1854" is roll-stamped on the lower left barrel flat and inverted "CAST-STEEL" is roll-stamped on the lower left barrel flat. The barrel of pistol E89 is unmarked. Both frames have loading levers that lack finger spurs, square ejection ports with semi-circular cut-outs and flattened cylinder rear sights. The bottoms of both frames lack retaining spring screw holes. The hammers have fine, hand-cut, knurling on the spurs. The pistols originally had blued barrels with casehardened frames and fire blue hammers and levers. The mahogany, French-fitted case has a silver inscription plate on the lid and nickel-silver reinforcements on the corners of the lid and body. The case is lined with maroon velvet and has six compartments including a central compartment for a cartridge box. Four of the compartments have rosewood lids. One compartment contains a pewter oil bottle. The case is complete with an ebony-cleaning rod with nickel-silver tip.

Fine with the retailer applied finish the barrel having aged to an attractive plum-brown patina. The unengraved portions of the barrel have smooth surfaces. The delicate and well-executed scrollwork, inscriptions and factory markings on the barrel are crisp. The case colors on the frame have faded to a silver-brown patina. Traces of fire blue are visible on the screw heads and hammer. The dense scroll and cross-hatched engraving on the frame is very sharp. The two-piece, bag-shaped grips have yellowed slightly with age but are excellent. The inscriptions on the panels are sharp. The mahogany, silver-reinforced case is in very fine condition. The case exterior retains 85% of the original varnish with superficial handling and storage marks. The case interior is in fine condition. The velvet lining is clean and shows minimal fading. Wear is limited to compression marks from the pistols and compartment lids.

As described in "A."

Fine. The period retailer applied blue finish on the barrel has aged to an attractive plum-brown patina. The unengraved portions of the barrel have smooth surfaces. The delicate and well-executed scrollwork and factory markings on the barrel are crisp. The case colors on the frame have faded to a silver-brown patina. Traces of fire blue are visible on the screw heads and hammer. The dense scroll and cross-hatched engraving on the frame is very sharp. The two-piece, bag-shaped grips have yellowed slightly with age but are excellent. This is quite an elegant pair of presentation grade S&W No 1. Repeating Pistols with distinctive, high quality engraving in a wonderful silver-bound rosewood case. Provenance: W. Tom Lewis Collection, Dr. Gerald Klaz collection.