Smith and Wesson .32 Caliber Single-Action Revolver, serial no. 17156

Art Historical Context

This exquisite Smith & Wesson . Caliber Single-Actionvolver (serial no. 17156), crafted between 1881 and1902, exemplifies the pinnacle of American firearms artistry. Produced by the renowned Smith & Wesson in, Massachusetts, and adorned by Tiffany & Co. in New, it blends industrial precision with luxurious embellishment. At just 7 inches long with 3-inch barrel and a mere 15 ounces, this .32-caliber pocket revolver was designed for concealed carry, reflecting the era's growing demand for personal defense amid urbanization and the Wild West's fading frontier. The revolver's materials—steel, silver, copper-platinum-iron alloy, and nickel—highlight masterful techniques like intricate engraving and plating, hallmarks of Tiffany's jewelry expertise applied to functional arms. Single-action mechanisms required manual cocking for each shot, emphasizing craftsmanship over mass production. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department (gift of Gerald Klaz, M.D., 2003), it showcases how 19th-century American innovation fused utility with opulence, turning a tool of protection into a collector's gem. Culturally, such Tiffany-enhanced revolvers symbolized status for affluent owners, bridging Gilded Age extravagance and practical self-reliance. A testament to collaborative genius, it invites us to admire the artistry in everyday objects of history.

About the Artist

Tiffany & Co.|Smith & Wesson · 1837–present

Tiffany & Co., founded on September 18, 1837, by Charles Lewis Tiffany and John B. Young in New York City as a stationery and fancy goods store, quickly evolved into a premier American house for jewelry and decorative arts. Under Charles's leadership, the firm introduced innovations like the sterling silver standard in 1851 and the iconic six-prong Tiffany Setting engagement ring in 1886, establis...