Serial 73575 is a Smith & Wesson No. 1-1/2 single action from the 1880s, chambered in .32 S&W with a 3.5-inch round barrel. About 95 percent of the original nickel survives, with scattered flaking mostly on the left side. The bore shows oxidation in the grooves and the rifling is faint. Brown checkered hard-rubber grips are very good, free of cracks or chips, with minimal handling wear. The action indexes correctly and locks up well.

The supplier calls it a nice little pocket gun of the Wild West era, and that is the collector lane it fits: a small Smith & Wesson in original nickel from the period, with grips and lockup that still hold up. The worn bore makes it a display and study piece rather than a shooter, and the high nickel survival is what will draw an antique handgun buyer's eye.

Key features

• Smith & Wesson No. 1-1/2, serial 73575, 1880s
• .32 S&W, 3.5-inch round barrel
• 95 percent original nickel, some flaking
• Brown checkered hard-rubber grips, very good
• Action indexes correctly, good lockup

Choose a licensed FFL dealer at checkout and the revolver ships there; you complete Form 4473 and the background check at pickup.