October 30 - November 2, 2018 Firearms, Militaria, & Sporting
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2018
Extremely rare Flat Top Target with the special elongated grips in caliber .22 WRF and documented in the book "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army" by David M. Brown, published 1965. This exact gun is documented on page 193 and 194. The historical background information lists this gun by serial number as having been sold to Purdey & Sons, London, England and shipped on February 20th, 1889 in a one gun shipment with flat top target frame and factory checkered extra long hard rubber grips, in this caliber and barrel length. It was originally shipped in a blue and nickel mixed finish. A drawing of this gun, along with the historical background is on page 193. Page 194 is a copy of a Colt letter dated January 27th, 1964 where the caliber is simply listed as .22, finish is listed simply as blue, stocks are simply "rubber", frame is simply "target". Page 193 states there were seven guns total made in this caliber. In the 1989 Colt letter, the listed caliber is .22 centerfire, blued finish and rubber grips. Colt factory letter and the historical background letter information differs as to finish, type of .22, and grips. The gun exists today having been expertly restored to its original type high polish blue finish with fire blue screws and extended grip diamond checkered hard rubber scales. Bottom of barrel is British proofed as well as British proofs at every chamber. Barrel has a Hartford address and features German nickel target front sight, wind-drift adjustable rear sight and black powder frame. Frame has three line patent address. Trigger guard is stamped ".22 CAL". You will find matching serial numbers on frame, trigger guard and backstrap. Which information of the three different stories is correct? It is definitely a rimfire, one of the letters states "WRF"; two letters indicate no nickel finish, all confirm the target frame and only one mentions the elongated sights. The closest letter is the one found under "Historical Background Letter" from Colt on page 193, which is the only one that mentions nickel as being part of the finish. CONDITION: The action locks up like new and the bore is near mint with sharp lands and grooves. All confirm that only seven Colts were manufactured in .22 WRF. The restoration job was master quality and appears today in near new condition inside and out. There are only a couple of single actions with production numbers fewer than this example and is probably the only one of its kind; a stunning and rare revolver of which there is no other comparison examples extant.