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LOT 1132
Extremely Rare Documented Scarce Colt Factory Nickel Plated Single Action Army Flat Top Target Model Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 130434, 32 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. This Colt Single Action Flat Top Target Model revolver with factory letter states this revolver was shipped
to Hartley & Graham in New York City on March 17, 1890. The letter describes the revolver as caliber .32/20 with 7 1/2 inch barrel, nickel finish and rubber stocks. The revolver has the distinctive flat top frame with flat sides and dovetail mounted rear sight. The front sight has a solid base with adjustable removable nickel-silver blade. The revolver has a nickel-plated finish with niter blue rear sight and frame screws. The two-piece black hard rubber grips are checkered and have the Rampant Colt logo in an oval near the top and the eagle and shield motif at the base. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend “COLTS PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” and the left side is roll-stamped “32 W.C.F.”. The caliber designation “32” is stamped on
the underside of the barrel just ahead of the frame. “101” is stamped just behind the ejector housing stud. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt “three- date/three-line” patent markings. A small “G” Colt inspection or assembly mark is stamped on the left front trigger guard bow and on the rear face of the cylinder. “S” is stamped in the hammer slot above the firing pin hole. The assembly number, “401” is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The serial number is stamped on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. Out of
a grand total of 43,264 first generation SAAs Colt manufactured in .32-20 WCF, only 108 30 were built with the standard flat top frame (see David Brown’s “The 36 Calibers of
the Colt Single Action Army”
on page 190). Very few Flat Top
Target Model revolvers with a
factory nickel-plated finish (and
this is most likely the only 32-20!).
The combination of .32 WCF and factory
nickel plated finish is very rare.
CONDITION: Excellent. The revolver retains 85% plus of
the original nickel-plated finish. The barrel and ejector
housing retain most of the nickel-plating with some
minor edge wear at the muzzle. The plated finish has
flaked around the edges of the frame and top strap, the
front and rear edges of the cylinder and on the edges of the
back strap and grip strap. The rear sight and frame screws retain 80% of the faded niter blue finish. The serial numbers and the barrel and frame markings are sharp.
The grips have faded to a deep brown and are both very good. The action is crisp and functions perfectly. This is an excellent example of an exceptionally rare factory nickel plated, .32 W.C.F. Colt Single Action Flat Top Target Model revolver. Writer cannot recall ever offering a documented nickel plated Colt Single Action
Army Flattop Target Revolver!
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000
According to "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" by Brown, of the 43,264 Colt Single Action revolvers manufactured in .32-20 WCF, only 30 were produced with a flattop frame.