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LOT 101
Rare Documented One-of-a-Kind Two-Tone Silver Plated with Blued Barrel
Factory Engraved Colt Officer’s Model .22 Target Double Action Revolver
with Relief Carved Steer Head Ivory Grips and Factory Letter -
Serial no. 7385, 22 LR cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue/silver finish, carved ivory grips.
Manufactured in 1932, with its blued barrel and silver plated frame, this factory
engraved Officer’s Model Target revolver makes for a rather unusual, one-of-
a-kind example of pre-World War II Colt artistry. It is the only model of its type
manufactured by Colt with a combination of finish. This one-of-a-kind revolver
is noted by famed Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson in “The Book of Colt
Firearms” on page 355. Wilson wrote, “Full silver plating was used rarely; one
pistol was silver plated with blued barrel.” In regards to the embellishment, Wilson
noted that approximately 20 examples of this model were factory engraved (page
357). The revolver was factory engraved by Master Engraver Wilbur A. Glahn.
The revolver was discovered in the 1970s in central Iowa, a prize of that previous
collector’s possessions, and was featured on the cover of the Summer 1993 issue
of Rampant Colt. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped
on February 17, 1932 to Dunham, Carrigan & Hayden of San Francisco, California,
for Joe Whardon with a 6 inch barrel in .22 caliber, silver plated with blue barrel,
factory grade “C” engraving, 3 1/2 inch pull, and type of stocks not listed. This
was a single gun shipment. The factory grade “C” engraving consists primarily of
scrollwork on finely stippled background. Leaf patterns decorate the underside
of the frame. Even the top strap is engraved with the scrollwork pattern. The
engraving covers nearly all of the frame aside from the knurled back strap and
part of the front strap. The engraving on the barrel includes double bands at the
muzzle and floral patterns flanking the two-line Colt legend on top and model/
caliber designation on the left side. Scrollwork surround the Rampant Colt
marking on the side plate.
As described in The Book of
Colt Firearms by Wilson
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