This Colt Single Action Army revolver has two Colt factory letters dated 1979 and 1985. Both letters describe Single Action serial number "1853" as caliber .22 with 7 1/2-inch barrel, nickel finish and "rubber" grips. Both letters state that this revolver was shipped to the Bandle Arms Co, in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 21, 1889. These revolvers are in a special serial number block between serial number 1689 and serial number 1892. Surviving .22 RF Single Action revolvers are rare. According to "The Official Records of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895" by Wilkerson and Hoyt, only 19 Colt Single Actions were produced in this configuration in the .44 RF serial number sequence (page 389). This revolver has the distinctive rimfire frame with rectangular firing pin aperture used on .44 RF and .22 RF revolvers and special hammer with rimfire firing pin. The ejector rod has the 'oval' head introduced around 1885. The revolver has a nickel-plated finish with niter blue screws. The two piece, black, hard rubber grips are checkered and have the Rampant Colt trademark in an oval at the top and the Eagle and Shield motif at the bottom. "22 CAL" is stamped on the underside of the barrel and on the left front trigger guard bow. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the Fourth Style address: "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S. A." in one line. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt 'Three-Date/Three-Line' patent dates. The assembly number "184" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. A "C" inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well below the firing pin aperture. The serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap.

Extremely fine. The revolver retains 75% plus of the untouched original nickel-plated finish. The finish is flaking on the barrel at the muzzle, along the forward edges of the frame and top strap and on the edges of the trigger guard, hammer and loading gate. The nickel plating on the sides of the frame, trigger guard, hammer and back strap has a dull, frosted, finish. Much of the nickel plating on the front and sides of the cylinder has flaked away. The serial numbers and markings remain sharp. The grips are also very fine and have crisp checkering with very sharp Rampant Colt, Eagle and Shield embossing. Mechanically excellent. This is an original, extremely fine documented, example of a nickel-plated, caliber .22 RF Single Action revolver; one of the rarest and most sought after variations of the Colt Single Action Army. Writer believes this to be one of the finest examples of an original .22 Colt SAA we have ever offered!