Aetna Arms Co. Pocket Revolver

This is a great example of an early American cartridge pistol known as the Aetna Revolver. It's almost an exact copy of a Smith and Wesson No. 1 2nd/3rd Issue Revolver. Aetna Arms was located in New York and manufactured 6,000 units from 1869-1880. This is a standard gun in .22 caliber, 7-shot cylinder, with blued barrel and cylinder with brass frame and wood grips. It has the birdshead style grips of the S&W No.1, 3rd Issue, but the non-fluted cylinder and octagon barrel styled after the 2nd Issue. However, the barrel latch and floating cylinder pin I've been told are more reminiscent of the early Marlin Revolvers. This has always been a memorable gun for me personally; it's the very first gun listed and pictured in the Cartridge Handgun section of Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms...pg. 462 in the 9th edition, chapter VIII-A. I grew up seeing that little gun almost every time I opened this little gun...so it's nice to finally find one; especially this nice.

Excellent overall condition retaining 85% original blue on cylinder and barrel. Brass frame has aged to mild yellow patina. Grips retain their original varnish. Mechanically, the action cycles flawlessly. Fine Bore. This would make a nice addition to almost any collection of American cartridge revolvers.

Item# 1362

SOLD