Rossi ~ Princess ~ .22 LR

The Rossi Princess (often designated as the Model 13 or Model 25) is a diminutive, vintage .22 LR double-action revolver manufactured in Brazil by Amadeo Rossi & CIA. Highly sought after today as a quirky collectible, it is famous for being a direct, scaled-down clone of the early 20th-century Smith & Wesson Ladysmith. The Princess was manufactured from 1965 to 1969. Its availability in the United States was abruptly cut short by the Gun Control Act of 1968. The law introduced a "points system" for imported handguns based on size and safety features. Because the Princess was so tiny and featured a short 2-inch barrel, it failed to meet the minimum restrictions and was banned from further U.S. importation. Consequently, it remains relatively rare and obscure in the American market today.