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LOT 1144
Scarce, Very Fine Documented Antique Colt San
Francisco Agency Shipped Bisley Flattop Target Model Single Action Revolver in .32 WCF with Factory Letter - Serial no. 164277, 32 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. This
is one of only 976 Bisley Flattop Target Revolvers manufactured by Colt and one of only approximately 131
chambered in .32 WCF (see David Brown’s “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 190). “The
.32-20 W.C.F. cartridge had good range and accuracy,” wrote Brown. “It is very easy to shoot as it does not make the revolver
buck as the larger calibers do.” Today these scarce revolvers are highly sought after by Colt collectors. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped to Colt’s San Francisco Agency, San Francisco, California, in May 1896 with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .32-20 caliber, blue finish, and hard rubber stocks. This was a single gun shipment. It has the correct all blue flattop frame, and it is fitted with target sights (a pinned beaded front blade and “U”
notch rear sights). The barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top and “(BISLEY MODEL) 32 W.C.F.” on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by an encircled Rampant Colt. The loading gate has the assembly number “115.” Both grip panels are marked
with the matching partial serial number “4277.” Matching full serial number appears on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% bright original polish blue finish with the grip straps mostly thinned to a brown-gray patina and holster type wear. The left panel is slightly warped and chipped towards the bottom, otherwise the grips are fine with overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of a rarely encountered antique Colt Bisley Flattop Target Model Single Action Revolver in .32 WCF.
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
According to "The Book of Colt Firearms", only 131 Colt Bisley Target Model revolvers
were produced in .32 WCF.
LOT 1145
Black Powder Colt Single Action Flattop Target Revolver in .450 Boxer -
Serial no. 129586, 450 Boxer cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. This antique black powder frame Colt
Single Action Army Flattop Target Revolver was manufactured in 1889 and is chambered in .450 Boxer, a desirable caliber that has
bemused Colt collectors for decades. In “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1872-1895” on page 46 the authors write, “An interesting fact became evident when comparing listings in the Colt ledgers with copies of the actual invoices found in the Connecticut State Library. The designation ‘Eley’ or ‘Boxer’ was used interchangeably. Revolvers listed in .45 Eley in the
record ledger may be listed on the shipping invoice as .45 Boxer and vice versa.” The authors accounted for a total of 275 SAA .450 Boxer/Eley Flattop Target Revolvers
falling in the 1-164100 serial number range and out of the 275 units 230 had a blue finish and 7 1⁄2 inch barrel like this example (page 405). In the 1880s the .450 became
a popular short range target cartridge. It features a barrel with the one-line Colt Hartford address on top, a frame with the standard two-line patent dates, “45/B” marked trigger guard (left side), target sights, “GG” in small font stamped on the top strap at the breech, assembly number “118” on the loading gate, hard rubber grips numbered to another gun, and matching full serial number on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The revolver lacks London proofs. These 450 Boxer/Eley Flattop Target Revolvers were generally for the British market.
CONDITION: Very good as a well used target revolver of the late 19th-early 20th century, retaining 40% original
blue finish on the frame, cylinder, and grip straps and a smooth brown-gray patina on the balance. The barrel and
ejector housing are refinished with scattered brown spots overall. 20% original case colors remain on the hammer.
The replacement grips show similar “working gun” character with worn checkering from spending years in the hand.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
According to "The Book of Colt Firearms", only 89 Colt Single Action Flattop Target revolvers were produced in .45 Boxer.
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