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LOT 89
Exceptional Documented Salt Lake City, Utah Shipped Colt Bisley Single Action Army Flattop
Target Model Revolver in Scarce .38 Colt with Factory Letter - Serial no. 313458, 38 Colt cal., 7
1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Offered here is one of only 976 Colt Bisley Flattop Target
revolvers which were produced in many calibers manufactured by Colt between 1894 and 1913 and
only one of approximately 96 Bisley Flattop Targets chambered in .38 Colt (see David Brown’s “The 36
Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 96). Brown noted, “Colt Single Actions were first made in the
.38 Colt caliber in 1886. The caliber did not attain sufficient popularity at that time to make production
profitable, and the caliber was dropped in 1914.” Today, these scarce revolvers are highly sought after by
Colt collectors. The condition alone makes this example a highly attractive addition to any collection. The
accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on December 2, 1910 to T. Carter & Co. of
Salt Lake City, Utah with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .38 Colt, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was
a two gun shipment. The revolver has the correct all blue flattop frame and pinned blade and dovetailed
notch target sights. The barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top and “(BISLEY MODEL) 38 COLT”
on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by an encircled
Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger guard carries the Colt factory verified proof and the letter “W”.
Matching serial numbers are found on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The matching assembly
number is found on the rear of the frame and loading gate. The revolver wears a set of checkered walnut
grips. “RTS” is stamped on the back of the left panel.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 85% plus bright original high polish blue finish with smooth
brown patina on the back strap and trigger guard and some handling marks. Vibrant original case colors
mostly remain on the hammer. The grips are excellent with minimal handling marks and overall crisp
checkering. Mechanically excellent. A very attractive Colt Bisley Flattop Target Revolver in .38 Colt.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
According to "The 36 Calibers
of the Colt Single Action Army"
by Brown, only 96 Colt Bisley
Flattop Target Model revolvers
were chambered for .38 Colt.