Witloe Precision, Inc., An American Company
Collecting Witloe Precision Replicas
Witloe Precision Inc. was arguably among the finest of American Gun Makers. They were totally American made from start to finish with no Italian parts. Few gun enthusiasts know of the company or have examined their high quality revolvers. Even before they ceased production, Witloe revolvers were being sought after by competition target shooters and arms collectors.
Located in Collingdale, Pennsylvania, Witloe produced two revolvers, the Lee Model and the Grant Model. Both are re-creations of the original Model 1858 Remington New Model .44 cal. revolver. Almost identical in design to the original Remington, the Witloe frames were machined from both silicon bronze (not brass) and steel. The Lee model was bronze-framed, symbolic of the Confederacy’s melting down of bells for gun parts. The Grant model was of steel as were the original revolvers.
Researchers still don’t know how many Witloe revolvers were actually made. Apparently, the “serial numbers” stamped below their loading levers, may not necessarily be serial numbers per se. Most of their small gun production were Lee models. As few as 35 Grant models may have been made. Witloe gun parts interchange with those of the original 1858 New Model Remington. The quality of these revolvers equal that of the century-old originals.
Two design changes were made to discourage counterfeiters from “faking” Witloe revolvers as originals. First, the frame screws enter from the right side of the revolver frame rather than the left, in opposition to the originals. Second, their barrels were cut with a “ratchet rifling” reminiscent of a design used in British match rifles. Witloe buyers could choose grips made of imitation ivory or American Walnut.
The Witloe is one of the hardest replica revolvers to find. They were only in business for a couple of years in late 1950's. They went out of business because they couldn't compete with Navy Arms at that time.
R. T. Lane, from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., later purchased the remaining inventory of partially assembled revolvers and parts and produced a few in the mid 1960's. These later revolvers are known as 2nd Generation Witloes. Most of these revolvers were marked WITLOE COLLINGDALE, PA., in two lines on top of the barrel. Lane was given the right to use only the WITLOE name, since Witloe Precision Inc. was still in business doing other things. There were only around thirty five of these produced, some as cased sets and some not. Of particular interest are the "Grant" Models. These 2nd Generation “Grant” models have been found to not have the “Grant” stamped on the barrel side and some do not have stamps at all except “.44” A few were standard non-target models, but most were target models.
To differentiate between the 1st Generation and 2nd Generation “Witloes”, the 1st Generation were marked WITLOE PRECISION INC/COLLINGDALE PENNA USA and 2nd Generation were marked WITLOE COLLINGDALE PENNA USA. These markings can be found on the top of the barrel in two rows. Since R. T. Lane bought up all the left over parts of the 1st Generation Witloe revolvers, some of the 2nd Generation revolvers have been found that do not have Witloe stamps at all or have Witloe stamped on the side of the barrel with the “44” stamp. It seems these 2nd Generation revolvers tend to carry more value than the 1st Generation, but the value of a collectable firearm is determined by supply and demand. The supply of the Witloe revolvers is is still unknown as to number produced. Some have sold for as little as $395 to $700, and others have gone for as much as $1300.
~ from the notes of Dr. James H Davis
