GuideCartridge

GUIDE TO IDENTIFYING YOUR MANHATTAN CARTRIDGE .22 CAL REVOLVER

manhattanfirearms.com

Model: First Model Cartridge, First Variation
Caliber: .22 Caliber
Barrel Length(s): 3"
Serial Number Range: approx. 1 to 1,600
Features: 7-shot, Round frame, copy of S&W First Model
.22, brass frame, iron side plate.
Manufacturing date: around 1860 to 1861

Model: First Model Cartridge, Second Variation
Caliber: .22 Caliber
Barrel Length(s): 3"
Serial Number Range: approx. 1,600 to 4,800
Features: 7-shot, Round frame, copy of S&W First Model
.22, iron frame, brass side plate.
Manufacturing date: around 1860 to 1861

Model: First Model Cartridge, Third Variation
Caliber: .22 Caliber
Barrel Length(s): 3"
Serial Number Range: approx. 4,800 to 7,000+
Features: 7-shot, Round frame, copy of S&W First Model
.22, Iron Frame, Hammer spur curved down.
Manufacturing date: around 1860 to 1861

Model: First Model Cartridge, Fourth Variation
Caliber: .22 Caliber
Barrel Length(s): 3"
Serial Number Range: approx. 7,000+ to 9,000+
Features: 7-shot, Round frame, copy of S&W First Model
.22, Iron Frame, Barrel latch shortened.
Manufacturing date: around 1860 to 1861

Model: Second Model Cartridge- Manhattan
Caliber: .22 Caliber
Barrel Length(s): 3"
Serial Number Range: approx. 1 to 8,000+
Features: 7-shot, Flat frame, copy of S&W Second Model
.22, Manhattan Barrel Address
Manufacturing date: around 1861 to 1862

Model: Second Model Cartridge- American Standard Tool
Caliber: .22 Caliber
Barrel Length(s): 3"
Serial Number Range: approx. 1 to 40,000
Features: 7-shot, Flat frame, copy of S&W Second Model
.22, American Standard Tool Co. Barrel Address
Manufacturing date: April 1869 to February 1873

Manhattan .22 caliber revolvers come in a wide variety of platings, grips, and engravings.
There are so many it is confusing even to me what is the standard configuration of each
model. While the plain, blued finished with walnut grips are probably the standard of all
models, you still can not say what is a special order gun. Enjoy the photos!!

(Double-click any photo on manhattanfirearms.com and you will get a larger version for
close-up viewing. Think of all the photos shown as thumbnail versions.)

Other Manhattan .22 Caliber Facts and Features

The first model .22's were mostly blued barrels with the frames nickel plated. But a large amount of
the first models were also silver plated. I show a first variation in the above guide with most of the
plating gone to show off the brass frame underneath. But it was originally completely covered.

The second model .22's were mostly commonly blued barrels and cylinders with nickel plated frames.
Also used was silver plate, gold plate, gold wash, un-plated brass frames and
.22 revolvers with full nickel plated barrel/frame/cylinder.

Platings and Finishes

First model .22's
Top: full nickel
Middle: nickeled frame and cylinder
Bottom: silver plated frame

First model .22's
Top: Silver frame tarnished black
Bottom: nickeled frame, blue cylinder
This bottom revolver is the most common configuration

This Second model Manhattan .22
Serial Number #2 Has a polished brass frame
w/blued cylinder and barrel

Second model .22's
Top: full nickel
Middle: nickeled frame and blued cylinder
Bottom: silver plated frame w/blued cylinder

Second model .22's
Top: gold plated frame
Bottom: silver plated frame with gold washed
barrel and cylinder

Close-up of gold wash showing in protected
areas on the barrel engraving and on the
cylinder scene

Grips

The most common grip is Walnut.
The color can vary from very light to very dark.

Surprisingly the second most common
grip is Mother-of-Pearl. My favorite!

The 3rd most common grip is Ivory.
I have never seen a carved Ivory grip on a
Manhattan .22...but I want one!!

The rarest of the Manhattan .22 grips is
Ebony wood. It is dark black and I have
only seen it on a full nickeled gun.

First Model .22 Engraving

Engraved barrels on the first model are standard. I have never seen an engraved first model
frame. Unique to the first model are casting imperfections on the back and bottom of the
backstrap. These were plugged with brass or copper, then engraved to camouflage the plug.
The plugs were then plated over and hidden. I get asked quite often about these plugs. The
bottom of the grip is sometimes roll engraved in a checkering pattern to hide imperfections.

Engraved barrels on the first model vary little from this design.

Roll engraving is common on the
bottom of first model 22's, but smooth
bottoms are equally common. Because
of the plating, no plugs are visible.

Brass and copper plugs are common (look close!).
Because the plating is worn you can see a square
plug on the right of the bottom butt strap.

Here is a football shape on the backstrap.
The plating hides the copper plug.

Here is a round copper engraved plug
on the backstrap.

On some very early first model first variation
.22's the serial number is stamped on the butt
strap. This is Serial number #53

Second Model .22 Engraving

Engraved barrels on the Second model are not standard, but not very rare either. Maybe half
of all Second model .22's have some engraving. There are two main styles of engraving. The
most common is the floral engraving seen on the barrels and then sometimes carried over to
the frame. A second style has a crosshatched design on the frame. But even the common
floral design has many variations from gun to gun. I hope these photos help!!!

Engraved barrels on the Second model is the same regardless of
other designs used on the frames of fully engraved guns. This
standard design was carried over from the First Model 22's.