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LOT 3205
Documented Mississippi Sheriff Pre-War Shipped
Scarce Factory Nickel Plated Colt Bankers Special
.22 LR Double Action Revolver with 2 Inch Barrel,
Pearl Grips, and Factory Letter - Serial no. 368533,
22 LR cal., 2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, pearl grips.
Manufactured in 1936, this is a rare example of a Colt Banker’s
Special revolver which is documented as shipped to a county sheriff
in Mississippi. These compact revolvers were designed for and desired
by bankers, shop keepers, express mail carriers, and law enforcement
for their concealability, while still offering significant firepower. The .22 LR
chambered variant, like this example, was likely intended more as a deterrent than
a lethal option but could still be lethal in a pinch. The included factory letter confirms the serial
number, caliber, barrel length, finish, grips, and June 25, 1936, date of shipment to “Harrison County, Mississippi Attn: Sh. O.L. Meador
Gulfport, Mississippi”. Oscar Lafayette Meador (1880-1973) was born in New Island, Mississippi, before moving to Gulfport later in life. Prior
to being elected sheriff, he was a salesman for Swift Company in Gulfport and Hattiesburg. He was first elected sheriff in 1933 in a special
election due to the death of the previous sheriff, Cleveland Huggins, who Meador had served as a deputy sheriff for. Meador was again
elected in 1936 and served out his term before taking up a position representing a grocery company out of New Orleans. The right side of
the barrel is marked with the two-line address and patent dates, while the left has the caliber and model marking. There is a Rampant Colt
on the left of the frame and Colt “VP” proof and assembler’s mark on the left of the trigger guard. It is fitted with a blade front sight, frame
top groove rear sight, and a pair of smooth pearl grips.
CONDITION: Extremely fine. 97% original nickel finish remains with some light edge wear, surface scratches, and areas of oxidation and finish loss around the
hard edges. Grips are also very fine with some scratches, a few small chips, and some mild discoloration. Mechanically excellent. .22 Banker’s Special revolvers are
uncommon, factory nickel finished examples even more so, but the combination of finish, caliber, and factory pearl grips is a true rarity!
Provenance: The Tom Selleck Collection.
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
LOT 3206
Documented Florida Shipped Pre-War Nickel
Plated Colt Bankers Special .38 Double Action
Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 370082, 38
Colt cal., 2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. According
to the included factory letter this revolver was shipped in its current
configuration to Frank T. Budge Company of Miami, Florida, on
November 3, 1938. Frank T. Budge’s hardware store was the first in Miami
and opened in 1896. The left side of the barrel is marked “38 BANKERS/
SPECIAL”, and the right side has the Colt address and patent dates. It is fitted
with a pair of checkered walnut grips with silver Colt medallions.
CONDITION: Excellent. The revolver retains 97% of the original nickel plating with only a few
minor nicks and slight scratches. The grips are also excellent with crisp checkering and slight
handling marks. The markings are crisp. Mechanically excellent. These are hard to find in
nickel let alone in such great condition.
Provenance: The Milan J. Turk Collection; Private Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,000
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