Page 182 - 4095-BOOK2

An included November 11, 1995,
dated handwritten letter addressed
from noted author and Colt
researcher Ron Graham to Douglas R.
Carlson states in relation this revolver,
“It is the finest, factory nickel plated, .22
Rimfire-.44 Rimfire serial number ranged, Colt Single Action Army Revolver known
to more than thirty-five years of research.”
CONDITION: Very fine, exhibiting a pleasing natural appearance, retains 70%
plus original nickel plated finish, with smooth brown patina on the balance of
the exposed metal surfaces, a few small patches of minor pitting, and defined
markings and edges. Grips are fine. Mechanically excellent. First Generation Colt
Single Action Army revolvers in .22 RF are seldom encountered today, making this
a rare opportunity to acquire the caliber absent in nearly all Colt Single Action
Army collections!
Provenance: Dean Williams; Douglas R. Carlson; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 25,000 - 40,000
LOT 1180
Rare and Highly Desirable Documented Nickel Plated Antique Colt .22 RF Single Action Army Revolver with
Factory Letter and Ron Graham Letter - Serial no. 1791, 22 RF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber
grips. The accompanying factory letter indicates this rare Colt Single Action Army revolver was chambered in .22 caliber
with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, nickel finish, rubber grips when it was shipped in a single gun shipment to J.F. Schmelzer & Son in
Kansas City, Kansas, on March 31, 1888. These .22 RF revolvers are found in a special serial number range between 1639-
1892, falling in the .44 RF serial sequence, per page 240 of “The Book of Colt Firearms” (1971), which does not mention
the .22 caliber revolvers numbered in the standard centerfire sequence. This example is reportedly one of only 19 examples
of its small grouping manufactured in this specific configuration, having nickel finish in .22 RF caliber with a 7 1/2 inch barrel and rubber
grips, according to page 389 of “The Official Record Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895” (2008) by Wilkerson and Hoyt, which lists a
total of 79 of these revolvers in the .44 RF serial sequence as made in .22 RF caliber in 7 configurations. Authors Wilson and Sutherland state that
107 total .22 caliber standard frame First Generation Single Action Army revolvers were manufactured, according to page 252 of “The Book of
Colt Firearms.” Due to the rarity of surviving examples of this small batch of first run .22 RF Single Action Army revolvers, these are considered a
prize for any Colt collector today. This .22 RF revolver was shipped in 1888, and the .22 RF was officially added to the line as a standard caliber in
1889, but was somehow not considered popular at the time. Many of these revolvers were subsequently altered or destroyed. Many of these .22 RF
revolvers were originally .44 RF revolvers, which Colt is known to have shipped to Wexell & De Gress in May 1879. Their journey to .22 RF is explained in “The
Official Records of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895”: “It is not known just when Wexell & De Gress returned the revolvers or even if they were returned in one large shipment
or two or more smaller shipments. At any rate, 8 of the returned .44 Rimfire revolvers were shipped to other dealers in 1884. Of the remaining 72 returned revolvers, 71 were converted to .22
Rimfire and one to .32 Rimfire... These revolvers may have been converted from .44 Rimfire revolvers in stock or, more than likely, may have been assembled on incomplete frames” (page 387).
A great majority of .22 caliber revolvers show two shipping dates: one as chambered in .44 RF and the other chambered in .22 caliber. Unfortunately, that is not the case with this example,
serial number 1791, as it only has one known shipping record showing it as shipped in .22 caliber. This revolver has the distinctive rimfire frame with rectangular firing pin aperture used on
.44 RF and .22 RF revolvers and special hammer with rimfire firing pin. The ejector rod has the “oval” head introduced around 1885. Period shortened front sight blade for target shooting, with
integral notch rear sight on top of the frame. The barrel is stamped with the one-line Hartford address on top. The left side of the trigger guard is stamped “22 CAL.” The left side of the frame
has the three-line patent dates. Matching full serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and butt, with number “1” and the letter “R” marked on the rear cylinder face, and assembly
number “169” on the loading gate. The revolver is
wearing checkered hard rubber grips with the
encircled Rampant Colt logo and federal eagle.
According to "The Official Record of the
Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-
1895" by Wilkerson & Hoyt, only 19 Colt
Single Action Army Revolvers in .22 RF
were produced in this configuration.
180