Made from 1861 to 1863 the Prescott belt revolver was clearly patterned after the Smith and Wesson No. 2, just as his pocket revolver followed the Smith and Wesson No. 1. These were Prescott’s earliest efforts and are relatively hard to find: Flayderman estimated production at only a few hundred of either model. They would properly be an officer’s privately purchased sidearm, but occasionally show up tucked in the belt of an enlisted man in images of Civil War soldiers, whether as a gift from a well-wisher at home or on loan from the photographer to increase one’s warlike look.

Following the Smith and Wesson, Prescott used an octagonal ribbed barrel and a bored-through cylinder firing a .32 rimfire cartridge. The contour of the frame, grips, hammer and spur trigger are all clear Smith and Wesson knockoffs with the difference that the frames are brass and solid, the barrel not being hinged to permit removal of cylinder for reloading, that being accomplished by drawing out the cylinder pin. The 5-inch barrel is steel gray with shallow pitting and brown spots with the maker address and patent stamp on the left flat: “E.A. PRESCOTT WORCESTER MASS. / PAT OCT. 2, 1860,” with shallow pitting and wear obscuring part of “Prescott” and the bottom edge of the lower patent stamp. The cylinder shows darker and the metal is smoother. The brass has a nice, mellow, mustard patina. The grips have nice color and finish with a few handling marks, and a small chip on the bottom at either side where they meet the frame. The action is good.

Pistols firing self-contained cartridges were popular sidearms during the war since the ammunition was waterproof, resilient, and did not require picking through percussion caps to reload. Even if the .32 caliber was not up to military standards, they could be an effective weapon for personal defense and proved popular among civilians, travelers, and early westerners as well.  [sr] [ph:L]

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