Spring 2025 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
May 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th, 2025
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
RARE, ORIGINAL COLT SAA REVOLVER CHAMBERED IN 22RF WITH FACTORY LETTER. EX FLAYDERMAN & RHOLES COLLECTIONS
01-25363
Cal 22 RF
S# 1860
Bbl. 7 1/2″ with correct short blade front sight. Beginning in 1875 Colt began production of the 44 RF SAA, however by this time centerfire cartridge performance had already far outpaced that of rimfire cartridges rendering SAAs chambered in 44 RF obsolete from the start and are found in the S# range 1-18XX. In an attempt to bolster sales, Colt then decided to manufacture or convert RF frames to a more desirable / saleable caliber, thus the introduction of the 22 RF to the Colt SAA line. The “solution” fell flat however and as stated in “A STUDY OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER” by Graham, Kopec & Moore page 29, “In his research of Colt shipping records, John E Parsons accounted for 107 .22 caliber standard frame Single Actions. However a separation of converted .22’s and regular .22 cal. production was not noted.” With a meager 107 22 RF SAAs produced, this remains one of the rarest calibers in existence. Matching numbers appear on frame, cyl, grip frame & bbl. Left front of trigger guard bow marked “22 CAL” and does not appear to be an overstamp. Correct unnumbered 2 piece checkered hard rubber eagle grips. Bbl. has 1 line block letter address. Left side of frame marked with 3 line patent date.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Colt factory archive letter to Norm Flayderman dated August 20, 1987 stating the following: “Serial Number: 1860/ Caliber: .22 Rim Fire/ Barrel Length: 7 1/2″/ Finish: Blue/ Type of Stocks: Rubber/ Shipped to: Schoverling, Daly & Gales/ Address: New York, NY/ Date of Shipment: May 28, 1889/ Number of Same Type Guns in Shipment: 1”.
PROVENANCE: Ex. Norm Flayderman Collection, Ex. Tommy Rholes Collection. James D. Julia past auction, March 2014.
STATUS: ANTIQUE
