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LOT 637
Documented Rare U.S. Post Office Shipped and Floyd E. Warren Signed Cattle Brand Relief Engraved and Gold Inlaid Smith & Wesson .22 Military & Police (Pre-Model 26) Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. C407542, 22 LR cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue finish, bone grips. This highly desirable .22 rimfire revolver was originally one of only 150 .22 Military & Police revolvers S&W shipped to the U.S. Post Office in 1958. In the accompanying 1968 dated factory letter S&W Service Manager F.J. Longtin confirmed the revolver “was produced on special order for the United States Government for the Postal Department.” The revolver was shipped on July 25, 1958. These revolvers were designated
as a U.S. Postal Service training gun. Accompanying original receipts indicate the revolver was sold by Fay’s Gun Shop of Chagrin Falls, Ohio,
and purchased by Frank Barnard in 1967 at a cost of $83.20 and was cattle brand engraved and gold inlaid by Floyd E. Warren for Frank
Barnard at a cost of $100.00. The embellishment was commissioned in 1968 and finished in 1971. In the included letter from Walter D. Woodford of Musket and Lance of Cleveland, Ohio, F.B. Warren is confirmed as the engraver. The revolver exhibits outstanding full custom relief engraving
in the traditional Texas cattle brand pattern pioneered by Cole Agee and carried on by Weldon Bledsoe. This highly desirable pattern was developed
in the 1940/50s and depicted the more prominent and historic Texas cattle brands used in the 1880s and early 1900s. The engraving covers nearly all of the surface and is in the typical Western style on a stippled background. Single gold inlaid bands decorate the barrel at the muzzle and breech. Double gold inlaid bands adorn the rear of the cylinder. The trigger guard is outlined in gold and has Barnard’s “FGB” initials in gold on the underside. Warren signed and dated his work
on the left side of the grip frame. The revolver wears a set of highly attractive, highly polished antique bone grips.
CONDITION: Very fine as beautifully custom embellished by F.E. Warren with 99% plus of the blue finish remaining, a cylinder drag line, and very limited handling marks. The hammer and trigger retain nearly all original case colors. The exceptionally fine grips are highly attractive and display on the slightest handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A rare documented U.S. Post Office shipped S&W .22
M&P revolver decorated with a highly desirable relief cattle brand engraving that will make a grand statement to any S&W or Texas themed collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500