This is an excellent example of a Colt Single Action Army Revolver that was chambered for the .45 Eley Short cartridge and shipped to the Colt London Agency. The right trigger guard shoulder is stamped with the small "C/Rampant Colt" trademark used by Colt's London Agent Fredrick Von Oppen. Von Oppen initiated the use of the "C/Rampant Colt" trademark in late 1872. This was the first use of the famous Rampant Colt trademark on any Colt firearm. The revolver has London proof marks on the underside of the barrel and between each chamber on the cylinder. The revolver has the Colt high polish commercial blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, loading gate and hammer are color casehardened with vivid case colors. The frame screws and cylinder pin are niter blue. The one piece walnut grip has a high polish varnished piano finish. The first style ejector housing has the early barrel boss and bullseye ejector rod head. The cylinder has the small stops and bolt guides. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the first style script address "+ COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.+" with a slanted cross at either end of the marking. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the first style two date in two lines patent marking. The left shoulder of the trigger guard is stamped with the caliber designation "45 CAL/B" (45 Eley Short). The loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "25". Small "C" Colt inspection marks are stamped on the underside of the barrel behind the barrel boss hole, on the rear face of the cylinder and in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The full serial number "15304" is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "5304" is stamped on the underside of the barrel beneath the ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. The accompanying factory letter verifies the serial number, caliber, blue finish, with barrel length and grips as "Not Listed" and that it was shipped as 1 of 100 to Colt's London Agency, 14 Pall Mall, London, England, on November 5, 1874.

Very fine. The revolver remains in exceptional condition for an early production Colt Single Action and retains 80% plus of the bright original blue and 95% vivid casehardened finish. The barrel and ejector housing have some edge wear at the muzzle and flaking along the top and left rear of the barrel. The visible steel has an attractive mellow plum-brown patina. The cylinder has 75% of the blue finish with the same matching attractive plum patina as the barrel. Nearly all of the blue finish is present on the trigger guard and back strap. The frame and hammer sides have 90% or more of the original casehardened finish with vivid case colors. The case colors on the top of the hammer and the loading gate have silvered slightly but still retain nearly 90% of the casehardened finish. The frame screws and the end of the cylinder pin have 80% or more of the fiery niter blue finish. The grip is excellent with 95% or more of the piano-finish varnish remaining. Wear is limited to several minor storage marks on the sides and heels of the grip. All of the markings, including the Von Oppen "C/Rampant Colt" trademark are crisp. The action is tight and functions perfectly. This is a rare high condition example of an early production London Agency Single Action Army Revolver with the Von Oppen "C/Rampant Colt" trademark rarely found on Single Action Army Revolvers. The revolver is one of the finest known early production Colt Single Action Army Revolvers.