Page 150 - 4095-BOOK1

LOT 133
Excellent Well-Documented, Albert Foster Jr. Shipped, Special Order Colt Flattop
Target Single Action Army Revolver in .45 Long Colt with Factory Letter, Featured in
“The Book of Colt Firearms” - Serial no. 317080, 45 Long Colt cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue
finish, checkered walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter states this revolver was
sold and shipped on May 24, 1911, to Albert Foster Jr. located at Colt’s New York City office,
in .45 caliber, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, type of grips not listed, and specifies the
revolver as having a Flat Top Target Model frame. This was a 6 gun shipment. The letter
further notes, “The late Albert Foster, Jr., was Manager of the Colt New York City office
for more than 30 years, and he was also a prominent gun collector.” Although the barrel
length is listed as 7 1/2 inches in the factory letter, it appears that may have been a factory
recording error, as the revolver is wearing a special order 5 inch barrel. This exact revolver
is featured on page 263 of “The Book of Colt Firearms” (1971 publication) by Sutherland
and Wilson, where the picture caption mentions it as special ordered with a 5 inch barrel
by Albert Foster Jr. and further states, “Barrel lengths other than 7 1/2” in the Target Single
Action revolvers are rare.” This rare special order Colt Bisley Flattop Target Model Single
Action Army revolver remains in excellent condition, and has an added bonus in that it was
shipped to the well-known early 20th century Colt collector and manager Albert Foster Jr.
Colt Flattop Target Model revolvers are considered scarce, with only 925 in total reportedly
manufactured, per page 259 of the aforementioned book.
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