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     Collector’s Fact
According to The Book of Colt Firearms by Wilson, only 37 Colt Flattop Target Single Action revolvers were manufactured in
.455 Eley.
  LOT 3258
Scarce Cased Antique Colt Flattop Target Single Action
Army Revolver in .455 Eley - Serial no. 162915, 455 eley
cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1895 as one
of only 37 Colt Flattop Target Single Action
Army revolvers chambered in .455 Eley per R.L. Wilson in “The Book of Colt Firearms.” The barrel has the
one-line Hartford address, the frame has the two-line patent
dates marking followed by a circled Rampant Colt, London proofs are on the underside of the barrel and
each cylinder flute, target sights, the trigger guard and grip frame have the Colt factory rework star, and
matching serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partitioned case features a
Colt London paper label on the interior of the lid and contains an added cartridge block holding 30 rounds of .455 Eley, oiler, case key, screwdriver, and cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 95% plus factory reapplied blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The replacement grips are fine with some scattered minor handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. The modified case is very good with lock escutcheon absent, minor handling/storage marks, and typical high spot wear on the lining.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 3259
Cased Documented Colt London Agency
Black Powder Single Action Army Revolver with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 38918, 45 Eley Short cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as chambered in .45
Eley Short (.450 Boxer) and blue finish while not listing the barrel length or grip. The revolver was shipped on October 11, 1877 to Colt’s London
Agency, London, England. Per R.L. Wilson
in “The Book of Colt Firearms”, just over
3,400 standard Colt SAAs were chambered in .450 Eley/Boxer. The top of the barrel is stamped with the Colt Pall Mall London address. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking. The caliber marking “45 CAL/B” is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. London proofs are stamped on the underside of the barrel and behind each cylinder chamber. The ejector rod has a bullseye head. Matching full or partial serial
numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, and barrel. The partitioned case has an “E.T.B.” marked brass initial
inlay on the exterior of the lid, Colt London paper label on the interior of the lid, empty cartridge block, and cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retaining 30% original blue finish and strong patterns of original case colors with a smooth gray patina on the balance. The grip is fine with high edge wear, minor dings and scratches and retaining most of the original varnish. Mechanically needs work as cylinder does not rotate when action is cycled. The case is fine with minor handling/storage marks, typical high spot wear on the lining and overall legible stained paper label.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3260
Birmingham Proofed Oklahoma Shipped Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 300806, 38 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter lists the revolver as having
a 4 3/4 inch barrel chambered in .38/40 with blue finish and stocks not listed when shipped to Bonebrake Hardware & Iron Co. in El Reno, Oklahoma on October 18, 1907. This revolver also features an “FB/3” Birmingham private view proof mark, above the frame serial number, dating to 1980.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 50% original blue finish and 30% original case colors with a smooth gray and brown patina on the balance as well as pitting on the recoil shield. Grips are very fine with a couple small handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Buckstix Collection.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
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