I have had this revolver for several years, but I never lettered it. A couple of weeks ago I requested a ship date request on the SWCA side of the forum. This was Roy's reply:
"Tim, .22/32 HFT serial number 488112 is a double numbered revolver the first one shipped had a 4 inch barrel and was shipped in May 1928. This is not the gun you have, the one you serial 488112 was shipped in December 1928 and had a 6 inch barrel and is a special that needs to be lettered. Roy."
When I purchased it, I received a document from a previous owner stating that the revolver was used to win at the 1929 U.S.R.A. Championship. The shooter was Joseph F Rivers, Greenwich Conn. From what I understand he was a team shooter for U S Cartridge Co, and he was displayed in an ad for U S Cartridge Co in 1933. I recently received a factory letter, and it helps back the story.
The letter states that it was delivered by S&W employee Mr. J J Skelly to Colonel J J Dooley, US Cartridge Co, 111 Broadway, New York City on Dec. 10, 1928. It was billed on a memo account for $20.70. Another interesting note in the letter is that it is a duplicate serial number gun. The other one being a 4" Kit Gun. Wouldn't that make a sweet pair!
I looked into the Colonel J J Dooley and would love to learn more about him as well. I found this part of his obit from the New York Times, dated April 1, 1950. "LARCHMONT, N.Y., March 31 -Col: John J. Dooley, U.S.M. C.R., retired, a leading expert on military rifles and machine guns and for many years an official at the National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, died here yesterday in his home, 10 Bayard Street, at the age of 80".
The letter states the revolver was delivered to Colonel Dooley at US Cartridge in Dec '28, but google searches show that Winchester or Olin took over US Cartridge in '25ish. The document that I have is from A H Rohlfing, who worked for Winchester-Western and Olin Corporation from 1968-1975.
I posted this on the SWCA side, and 357magster posted some newspaper articles related to Mr. Rivers and the USRA. Hopefully he will post them on this side as well.
As far as the gun itself, it's in pretty good condition to be a 95 year old competition .22lr revolver. There is a spot of bluing missing on each side of the barrel. But other than that it is pretty nice for its age. The grips are nice and yes, they number to it. It would be interesting to know what other matches that it was shot in. Obviously, it was not engraved and placed on the mantle.
This is just one of many reasons to join the SWCA. Ship date requests are free. And if Mr. Jinks suggests that you letter your gun, send in for a letter!!
Thanks for looking and please jump in if you have information on the USRA events in the late 1920's thru the early 1930's.
Tim
"Tim, .22/32 HFT serial number 488112 is a double numbered revolver the first one shipped had a 4 inch barrel and was shipped in May 1928. This is not the gun you have, the one you serial 488112 was shipped in December 1928 and had a 6 inch barrel and is a special that needs to be lettered. Roy."
When I purchased it, I received a document from a previous owner stating that the revolver was used to win at the 1929 U.S.R.A. Championship. The shooter was Joseph F Rivers, Greenwich Conn. From what I understand he was a team shooter for U S Cartridge Co, and he was displayed in an ad for U S Cartridge Co in 1933. I recently received a factory letter, and it helps back the story.
The letter states that it was delivered by S&W employee Mr. J J Skelly to Colonel J J Dooley, US Cartridge Co, 111 Broadway, New York City on Dec. 10, 1928. It was billed on a memo account for $20.70. Another interesting note in the letter is that it is a duplicate serial number gun. The other one being a 4" Kit Gun. Wouldn't that make a sweet pair!
I looked into the Colonel J J Dooley and would love to learn more about him as well. I found this part of his obit from the New York Times, dated April 1, 1950. "LARCHMONT, N.Y., March 31 -Col: John J. Dooley, U.S.M. C.R., retired, a leading expert on military rifles and machine guns and for many years an official at the National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, died here yesterday in his home, 10 Bayard Street, at the age of 80".
The letter states the revolver was delivered to Colonel Dooley at US Cartridge in Dec '28, but google searches show that Winchester or Olin took over US Cartridge in '25ish. The document that I have is from A H Rohlfing, who worked for Winchester-Western and Olin Corporation from 1968-1975.
I posted this on the SWCA side, and 357magster posted some newspaper articles related to Mr. Rivers and the USRA. Hopefully he will post them on this side as well.
As far as the gun itself, it's in pretty good condition to be a 95 year old competition .22lr revolver. There is a spot of bluing missing on each side of the barrel. But other than that it is pretty nice for its age. The grips are nice and yes, they number to it. It would be interesting to know what other matches that it was shot in. Obviously, it was not engraved and placed on the mantle.
This is just one of many reasons to join the SWCA. Ship date requests are free. And if Mr. Jinks suggests that you letter your gun, send in for a letter!!
Thanks for looking and please jump in if you have information on the USRA events in the late 1920's thru the early 1930's.
Tim
