Colt Banker’s Special Model .22 LR 2″ Double Action Revolver, MFD 1934 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3401
LSB#: 230607HE001
Make: Colt
Model: Bankers Special
Serial Number: 369270
Year of Manufacture: 1934 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action Type: Single and Double Action Revolver With Swing Out Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “22?, “BANKERS / SPECIAL”. The right side of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. / PAT’D AUG.5.1884 JULY 4.1905 OCT.5.1926”. The crane cut and the crane are marked with the serial number “369270”. The side plate is marked with a “Rampant Colt” logo. The left of the trigger guard is marked with “VP” in a triangle and “Y”. The grips are not serial-marked.
Barrel Length: 2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch at the rear of the top strap. The edges of the topstrap groove are serrated for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece checkered walnut with silver-colored Colt medallions at their tops. The grips have light handling wear, most notable around the edges of the checkering and at the bottom of the right panel’s checkering. There are a few light nicks and scuffs. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 97% of its current metal finish. The finish is generally strong throughout. There are a few minor scratches and tiny spots of faint surface oxidation. There is infrequent and very minor erosion under the finish. The action shows barely any operational wear. The screw heads are generally sharp, the grip screw is tool marked with a strong slot. The markings are generally clear, the rampant colt shows wear. Overall, this revolver is in Fine-plus condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lockup on this revolver is SOLID, with no play when the trigger is depressed. The double action trigger is smooth, the single action is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a hinge-lid cardboard Colt box with wax paper. The box does not have a label and there is no serial number written on the bottom, but there is some writing on the bottom.
Our Assessment: Introduced in 1928 as a revolver for those who needed something small and quickly deployed, such as bank employees, the Bankers’ Special is a small-frame, 6-shot revolver chambered for the .38 Colt Police Positive or .22 Long Rifle cartridges. These short cartridges allowed for a shorter 1 1/4? cylinder, reducing size and weight.
This example is a .22 made in 1934. It has been refinished, so it looks great for its age. The revolver still has a great bore and strong mechanics. These revolvers are not common, and so make a great addition to a Colt collection. It would also certainly serve its intended purpose just as well today as it would have in 1934. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
