SPECIAL & WONDERFUL MOST UNUSUAL COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

SPECIAL & WONDERFUL MOST UNUSUAL COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 22. SN 95703. Possibly & probably the very first Colt Single Action produced in 22 cal. It has nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, a dovetailed front sight with Rocky Mountain blade that appears to be a modified Colt Lightning sight. Bbl has block letter 1-line address and left side is marked “22-R.F.”. Close examination of bbl does not disclose any relining or alteration from another bbl, therefore the assumption is that this is a Colt factory bbl. It has typical crown this cataloguer has observed on other Colt single action 22’s. Top of frame has been dovetailed and has a tiny fixed sight at rear end that has a tiny star stamped on top. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and left front web of trigger guard is marked “22 CAL”, typical markings Colt placed on their “buy-back” military revolvers that they re-worked and sold to public. Bottom of bbl at frame is faintly stamped “22M”. This is assumed to mean Model 22 and there is an “O” by the ejector rod screw stud. The inspector initials on frame appear to have been obliterated during refinish process; however a small “G” appears by serial numbers on trigger guard & butt strap. This is inspector mark of John E. Greer who was the inspector on this series of cavalry revolvers with David F. Clark. Frame firing pin hole was plugged with a tiny rectangular slot cut for rimfire firing pin nose. Hammer is typical Colt rimfire, not an altered centerfire hammer. It has standard rimfire nose secured with two rivets. Cylinder has had chambers professionally sleeved to 22 cal and has the last two digits of serial number between two of chambers and there is a tiny “S” & punch dot in another area. No serial number was observed on outside diameter of cylinder. It was noted that face of cyl is lightly pitted, however sleeves are not pitted leading one to speculate that this was a used revolver when factory made alterations. It has an early, probably orig, base pin with dimple in the end. Screws are blued and appear to be orig to revolver. It has 1-pc walnut grip with number “4573” in back strap channel. Inside of front trigger guard web has been grooved, prior to nickel-plating, apparently for use of a devise to hold trigger for a trick shot artist. Accompanied by two Colt Factory letters, one dated 1958 and the other dated 2004, supplying identical information regarding configuration of revolver as having been shipped in 22 cal with 7-1/2″ bbl, nickel finish, wood grip to “Vic Smith”, address unavailable on May 21, 1886. Under remarks in 2004 letter it states that there is a second listing for this serial number as a 45 caliber with blue finish sold to the government and delivered Aug. 3, 1883. This leads one to understand that this is a “buy-back” revolver which was subsequently altered to its current configuration by factory, therefore making it the first 22 caliber single action army revolver. On p. 240 of The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, this revolver, by serial number, is listed as the first single action army in 22 rimfire. It was shipped about a full year before Colt shipped the first production single action 22 in May of 1887. It is also accompanied by a large volume of correspondence regarding Vic Smith, who was apparently a certified character & frontiersman and was a contemporary of several of the frontier notables such as Liver Eatin’ Johnston, the Marquis d’Mours, John X. Biedler, Yellowstone Kelly & future President Roosevelt. He was an accomplished buffalo hunter, fresh meat forager for the U.S. Army, a dispatch rider and scout under Col. Terry & Gen. Miles. He was also a trapper & well-regarded as an Indian fighter. He was a successful hunting guide for important Easterners & royalty traveling to the West. During his days on the frontier he was known as “Yellowstone Vic”, whose proper name was Victor Grant Smith. He was a prolific shooter, said to have fired as many as 20,000 rnds a year. He is mentioned by name in Hunting Trips of a Ranchman, Theodore Roosevelt. He is said to have tied the record for the most buffalo killed from a single stand, that being 107 in an hour. After the buffalo were gone and fences had been erected, Smith became a trick shot artist and toured with a number of circuses and Wild West shows. He is subject of the book The Champion Buffalo Hunter, Smith & Prodgers, which is the frontier memoirs of Yellowstone Vic Smith, a copy of which accompanies this revolver. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains most of its factory nickel finish with light muzzle edge wear and some flaking on hammer. Grip is sound with a smooth hand rubbed patina. Will not hold on safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine with strong bright bore having scattered light pitting. 4-56610 JR63 (10,000-20,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	918	$8,050.00	SPECIAL & WONDERFUL MOST UNUSUAL COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 22. SN 95703. Possibly & probably the very first Colt Single Action produced in 22 cal. It has nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, a dovetailed front sight with Rocky Mountain blade that appears to be a modified Colt Lightning sight. Bbl has block letter 1-line address and left side is marked “22-R.F.”. Close examination of bbl does not disclose any relining or alteration from another bbl, therefore the assumption is that this is a Colt factory bbl. It has typical crown this cataloguer has observed on other Colt single action 22’s. Top of frame has been dovetailed and has a tiny fixed sight at rear end that has a tiny star stamped on top. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and left front web of trigger guard is marked “22 CAL”, typical markings Colt placed on their “buy-back” military revolvers that they re-worked and sold to public. Bottom of bbl at frame is faintly stamped “22M”. This is assumed to mean Model 22 and there is an “O” by the ejector rod screw stud. The inspector initials on frame appear to have been obliterated during refinish process; however a small “G” appears by serial numbers on trigger guard & butt strap. This is inspector mark of John E. Greer who was the inspector on this series of cavalry revolvers with David F. Clark. Frame firing pin hole was plugged with a tiny rectangular slot cut for rimfire firing pin nose. Hammer is typical Colt rimfire, not an altered centerfire hammer. It has standard rimfire nose secured with two rivets. Cylinder has had chambers professionally sleeved to 22 cal and has the last two digits of serial number between two of chambers and there is a tiny “S” & punch dot in another area. No serial number was observed on outside diameter of cylinder. It was noted that face of cyl is lightly pitted, however sleeves are not pitted leading one to speculate that this was a used revolver when factory made alterations. It has an early, probably orig, base pin with dimple in the end. Screws are blued and appear to be orig to revolver. It has 1-pc walnut grip with number “4573” in back strap channel. Inside of front trigger guard web has been grooved, prior to nickel-plating, apparently for use of a devise to hold trigger for a trick shot artist. Accompanied by two Colt Factory letters, one dated 1958 and the other dated 2004, supplying identical information regarding configuration of revolver as having been shipped in 22 cal with 7-1/2″ bbl, nickel finish, wood grip to “Vic Smith”, address unavailable on May 21, 1886. Under remarks in 2004 letter it states that there is a second listing for this serial number as a 45 caliber with blue finish sold to the government and delivered Aug. 3, 1883. This leads one to understand that this is a “buy-back” revolver which was subsequently altered to its current configuration by factory, therefore making it the first 22 caliber single action army revolver. On p. 240 of The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, this revolver, by serial number, is listed as the first single action army in 22 rimfire. It was shipped about a full year before Colt shipped the first production single action 22 in May of 1887. It is also accompanied by a large volume of correspondence regarding Vic Smith, who was apparently a certified character & frontiersman and was a contemporary of several of the frontier notables such as Liver Eatin’ Johnston, the Marquis d’Mours, John X. Biedler, Yellowstone Kelly & future President Roosevelt. He was an accomplished buffalo hunter, fresh meat forager for the U.S. Army, a dispatch rider and scout under Col. Terry & Gen. Miles. He was also a trapper & well-regarded as an Indian fighter. He was a successful hunting guide for important Easterners & royalty traveling to the West. During his days on the frontier he was known as “Yellowstone Vic”, whose proper name was Victor Grant Smith. He was a prolific shooter, said to have fired as many as 20,000 rnds a year. He is mentioned by name in Hunting Trips of a Ranchman, Theodore Roosevelt. He is said to have tied the record for the most buffalo killed from a single stand, that being 107 in an hour. After the buffalo were gone and fences had been erected, Smith became a trick shot artist and toured with a number of circuses and Wild West shows. He is subject of the book The Champion Buffalo Hunter, Smith & Prodgers, which is the frontier memoirs of Yellowstone Vic Smith, a copy of which accompanies this revolver. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains most of its factory nickel finish with light muzzle edge wear and some flaking on hammer. Grip is sound with a smooth hand rubbed patina. Will not hold on safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine with strong bright bore having scattered light pitting. 4-56610 JR63 (10,000-20,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2006 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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