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LOT 117
Excellent Documented Special Order Colt Bisley Model Single Action Revolver in
.38 Colt with Checkered Walnut Grip and Factory Letter - Serial no. 305697, 38 Long
Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, checkered walnut grips. This is
a highly attractive example of a Colt Bisley Model Single Action revolver chambered in
.38 LC. Per Colt author and expert David Brown 412 standard frame Bisley revolvers were
manufactured in .38 LC (see “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 170).
Colt introduced this caliber in 1886 and dropped it in 1914 before reintroducing it to
the SAA line in 1922. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped to
J.B. Davis Arms Co. of Portland, Maine, on July 9, 1908 with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .38 Colt,
blue finish, and checkered walnut grips. The revolver has the distinctive Bisley Model
humpback profile grip, curved hammer with wide spur, higher frame, larger trigger
guard and longer, wider trigger. The barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top
and “(BISLEY MODEL) 38 COLT” on the left side. The frame has the two-line patent dates
marking followed by a Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger has the Colt factory
triangle proof and the number “6”. The attractive and desirable checkered walnut grips
are numbered to the gun. Other matching serial numbers are found on the frame, trigger
guard, and back strap. Brig Pemberton’s nots indicate this revolver was purchased from
Tom Power in 2004.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% bright original high polish
blue finish with slight thinning visible on the grip straps and high
edge wear. The hammer and frame retain 95% original case colors. The
grips are also excellent with some handling marks mostly on the bottom and
overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A very attractive Colt Bisley
Model revolver.
Provenance: The Tom Power Collection; The Brig & Louise Pemberton
Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000