High condition Stevens Diamond No. 43 First Issue single shot .22 Rim Fire pistol with rare and desirable 10 inch barrel. The Stevens Diamond No. 43 pistol was made from 1886-1896 in limited quantities compared to later models. It was chambered for the .22 Short and Long cartridges interchangeably and offered in 6” or 10” part octagon/part round barrels. It is identifiable by the brass frame and circular side plate on the receiver that later models do not have. Unlike the “bicycle rifles” that appear similar but were cut for a wire stock, this model was purely a handgun. The 10” version is much less common than the shorter variation. Many of these were used for both field shooting at small game, used by trappers as well as target shooters for indoor gallery or outdoor use. With the last of these made 126 years ago, when found the Diamond No. 43 is usually in hard used and poor condition. This example with low serial number 4474 was probably made in the late 1880s and is in unusually excellent condition for this model. The brass frame retains nearly all the factory nickel plating with only the most slight edge wear and some small peeling of the nickel on the butt. The walnut grips are excellent with no chips or cracks and fit perfectly. The barrel shows full lovely blue that has the appearance of only being slightly dulled by age. The barrel shows the Stevens markings beside the original notched rear sight that is matched with a correct very small blade front sight. The action is tight with good barrel lock up, strong half-cock safety notch on the hammer, and full cock with very crisp and light trigger pull. The bore shows modest wear, but retains fine rifling. To load and fire this fine and simple handgun, one need only place the hammer on half cock to retract the firing pin in the frame, push on the barrel release button on the left side of the receiver, drop the barrel down for loading and then simply lift the barrel into place where it locks securely. Firing requires only cocking the hammer and pulling the trigger. A wonderful, outstanding condition example of a scarce light woodsman’s or target shooter’s pistol from a long ago bygone time.