October 25, 2023 The Paul Friedrich Collection of Firearms & Gold Rush
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/25/2023
Bankers Special revolver chambered in .22 LR manufactured by Colt in 1935. The left side of the barrel is stamped "22" followed closely by "BANKERS/ SPECIAL", with the right side bearing Colt's 2-line address. Left side of frame exhibits the Rampant Colt logo. This example is Type A factory engraved, exhibiting arabesque foliate patterns and scroll work. Metal components exhibit a restored blue finish, while the frame is mounted with wonderful Colt silver medallion 2-piece ivory grips featuring a relief carved steer head on the right panel. This example is accompanied by a Colt factory letter indicating the aforementioned grips and engraving, and this example as the sole revolver shipped to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. Chicago, Illinois, for A. Horton, c/o: Pradera Farm, Valparaiso, Indiana, on May 9th of 1939. R.L. Wilson indicates in "The Book of Colt Firearms" that fewer than 50 Bankers Special revolvers were engraved or inscribed during production, with few examples still surviving today. CONDITION: Excellent, as restored, with metal components retaining virtually all of their blue finish, with some few spots of minute wear, and the sideplate and cylinder having lightly turned a plum color. Mirror bore, exhibiting well-defined rifling throughout. Grips are very good overall, with the left grip exhibiting a repaired section at the pinhole and both grips showing a couple of small cracks at the top of the medallions. An extremely scarce example of 1 of only approximately 50 or fewer factory-engraved Colt Bankers Special revolvers.