The Colt Single Action Army was one of the most popular handguns in late 19th century and no other firearm exudes the character, grit, and style of the American frontier like the Colt Single Action Army revolver. The legendary Peacemaker has become a beloved collectable, especially those with rare special order features. One of those rare special order features is the factory carbine barrel (10-16 inches). Offered here is a black powder SAA with a 16 inch factory barrel and skeleton shoulder stock deep in Texas history. Perhaps no other state personifies the Wild West like Texas! As a carbine barreled standard frame SAA no. 25922 certainly stands out as a true rarity in Colt collecting. Because of its standard frame no. 25922 is even rarer than the 30 known Buntline Specials Colt built on a flattop target frame found in the 28801-28830 serial number range. Per Colt historian and author Ron Graham, only two 16 inch standard frame SAAs are known (see included letter). The history of the revolver is spelled out in a 1957 notarized letter of provenance from John D. Whitley of Cameron, Texas. Whitley states his father, Major Julius William Whitley, purchased revolver no. 25922 with skeleton shoulder stock in 1885 or 1886. He clearly remembered his father using the revolver and stock on deer hunting trips and had the “sights added later for better accuracy.” A second 1957 notarized letter of provenance gave additional details. A.S. Dodson of Cameron, Texas, purchased the revolver and stock from Major Julius Whitley in 1913. In 1957, T.E. Dodson, whose father was A.S. Dodson, sold it to noted Texas gun collector and museum curator Gaines de Graffenried. The customer draft issued by de Graffenried for the amount of $250.00 to T.E. Dodson is included. This was only partial payment for the revolver as total cost was $500. De Graffenried was an early organizer and exhibitor of gun shows in Waco, Texas, circa 1940s-1950s, was a charter member of the Texas Gun Collectors Association, and was a governor appointed member of the commission to establish the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum at Waco. From 1975 until his death in 1991, de Graffenried served as the curator of exhibits, a non-paying position, at the Texas Ranger Museum. The City of Waco purchased a large portion of this 700 gun collection in 1989 for the museum. The gun has been exhibited at several museums: Amon Carter Museum of Western Art in Fort Worth, Texas (“Frontier Guns,” January 23-April 1964 with museum paperwork included); Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, Texas; and Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. The revolver is pictured on pages 16-17 and identified on page 28 of the Amon Carter Museum catalog for the “Frontier Guns” exhibit. In Roger Conger’s the “Texas Collector: Gaines de Graffenried” the revolver is pictured and identified on pages 28-39. The book recounted de Graffenried’s dogged presentence in getting Dobson to sell the gun. De Graffenried first laid eyes on the revolver in 1936 when it sat in a storefront window in Cameron, Texas, and at the time the owner would not sell. It would be nearly two decades later before de Graffenried had another run in with the gun. The gun was also featured in the cover article to the September 1957 issue of The Gun Report by Roger Conger as well as in an article by Charles Worman in the March 1971 issue of Hobbies. The aforementioned publications accompany the revolver. In his accompanying letter, Colt historian and co-author of “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” Ron Graham declared this black powder SAA as an authentic “Buntline” with the exception of the period added sights cited in the aforementioned letter of provenance and replacement cylinder and ejector rod housing. Graham wrote, “This Single Action Colt is fitted with a factory original, sixteen inch barrel! An extensive examination of number 25922, a previous examination of another factory original, 16” barrel, standard frame, 25000 serial number range SA, and with the known provenance of this Colt, it must be concluded that 25922 was factory assembled with it long barrel. There is purportedly no factory shipping record regarding 25922. Research indicates Colts’ gunsmiths probably assembled this revolver during the latter half of 1876. However, completion could have been as late as 1880.” When Graham wrote this letter in 2001 only two 16 inch standard frame SAAs were known to exist. “Number 25922 is without question an extremely rare and desirable Colt Revolver,” concluded Graham. The 16 inch barrel has the one-line Hartford address. The revolver is fitted with a combination Beach front sight and fixed notched rear sight mounted in the original rear sight groove. These sights were added during the period to meet the needs of the owner (see letter of provenance). The frame has the two-line patent dates marking on the left side and provisions for a detachable and included skeleton shoulder stock. The left side of the trigger guard is marked “45 CAL.” The cylinder has the number “5410.” The matching full serial number “95922” appears on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The matching partial serial number “5922” appears on the barrel under the ejector rod. The revolver is complete with a nickel plated skeleton shoulder stock featuring blue knurled tightening knob. Provenance: Major Julius Whitley; A.S. Dodson; T.E. Dodson; The Gaines de Graffenried Collection; Amon Carter Museum of Western Art; Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum; Frazier History Museum; Property of a Gentleman

Very good, displaying a very attractive as found dark patina associated with a revolver that has spent a lifetime in the challenging Texas environment with some original blue finish on the back strap. The worn grips show similar “working gun” character from spending a lifetime in the hand. There is play in the cylinder, otherwise the action cycles properly. The stock is very fine retaining 85% original nickel plating. Without a doubt this is an extremely rare 16 inch barreled standard frame back powder Colt Single Action Army revolver with collector pedigree that is unmatched and is well worthy of the finest public or private collection. It shows all the authentic grit and grime of a frontier survivor!