Make: Frank Wesson

Model: Pocket Rifle No. 2

Serial Number: 2294 (Matching under barrel and butt; stock numbered “94”)

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1870s (Antique)

Caliber: .22 Rimfire

Action Type: Single Shot Side-Swing (Swivel Breech) with Detachable Skeleton Shoulder Stock

Markings: The top flat of the barrel is marked “FRANK WESSON WORCESTER, MASS. / PAT’D OCT. 25, 1859 & NOV. 11, 1862”. The serial number “2294” is marked on the bottom of the grip frame and under the barrel. The detachable wire-frame stock is numbered “94” on both the loop and the mounting collar.

Barrel Length: 9 7/8”, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a German silver blade. The rear sight is a small semi-buckhorn notch dovetailed into the barrel, with an enjoyable glint of original bright blue remaining on the top of the sight leaf.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece varnished walnut with a smooth finish and visible grain. There are small scattered nicks, dings, and light handling marks. The detachable iron wire-frame stock is mismatched in serial but appears factory original in fit and patina. The grips rate in about Good condition. The stock rates in Good condition as an antique component.

Type of Finish: Blued Barrel, Nickel-Plated Frame

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with worn rifling. There is scattered erosion throughout. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 4/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains approximately 20% of its original blue, primarily in protected areas such as the barrel flutes and top surface flats. Approximately 80% of the original nickel plating remains on the frame, showing only mild flaking and freckling. The extractor stud/screw on the right side is missing. The balance of the exposed metal shows gray and brown patina with age-consistent wear. The screw heads are serviceable. Markings remain sharp and legible. Overall, this pistol rates in about Good condition as an antique.

Mechanics: The side-swing barrel opens by pressing the frame-mounted release button. The hammer cocks and drops properly. The breech locks up securely. While the extractor stud is missing, the action remains functional. The detachable shoulder stock mounts snugly. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Includes original detachable wire-frame shoulder stock (numbered “94”).

Our Assessment: The Wesson name is well known in firearms history, though often only in reference to Smith & Wesson co-founder Daniel B. Wesson. His younger brother, Frank Wesson, was also a brilliant and prolific gunmaker whose designs left a lasting impact on 19th-century American firearms. He opened his own shop in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1854 and produced a wide range of falling block and breech-loading firearms—most prized today for their ingenuity and quality.

This Frank Wesson Pocket Rifle No. 2 is chambered in .22 Rimfire and features a side-swing swivel breech, 9 7/8” octagonal barrel, and the distinctive removable wire-frame shoulder stock. These hybrid pistol-carbines were among the most innovative compact firearms of their day, offering the portability of a pistol with the stability of a rifle. A pleasing glint of bright original blue remains on the rear sight leaf, while the nickel frame retains about 80% of its finish, making this one of the better surviving examples in the wild.

While the stock is mismatched in serial, it fits well and appears original to the period and model. With the correct under-barrel serial marking, desirable cartridge chambering, and mechanically intact action, this Pocket Rifle stands out as a worthy addition to any advanced antique arms collection. Frank Wesson's contributions to American firearms history remain underappreciated—this example offers a tangible, highly collectible reminder of his legacy.