Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Rollin White Arms Company was mysteriously founded in 1864, with ambiguous ties to famed bored-through cylinder inventor Rollin White. Despite the name, White himself does not appear to have been a founder or major shareholder. The company produced a basic .22 rimfire revolver nearly identical to the Smith & Wesson Model 1, lacking only the tip-up barrel. This solid frame design was simpler but more durable. Curiously, the barrel is marked “Made for Smith & Wesson”, indicating a contract to supply S&W. However, S&W held the exclusive patent rights to bored-through cylinders, and promptly sued Rollin White Arms for infringement. Smith & Wesson acquired the company’s entire stock of revolvers, numbering nearly 12,000. These were then rebranded and resold at a profit, with this example being one of the rare survivors.
“Manufactured circa 1860s. The S&W No. 1 case is very good and has mild wear.”
Lot 2317: Rollin White S & W Revolver 22 short. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved February 7, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1027/2317/rollin-white-s-w-revolver-22-short.
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