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LOT 139
Extremely Rare Documented Elongated Gripped,
Metford Rifled, Antique Colt London Single Action
Flattop Target Revolver in Scarce .450 Caliber with
Colt London Case and Factory Letter - Serial no. 129594,
450 Boxer cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, elongated
checkered walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter
states this Flattop Target revolver was shipped on June 17,
1889, to Colt’s London Agency at 14 Pall Mall in London,
England, in .450 Boxer caliber, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue
finish, and hard rubber grips (likely a factory recording
error), with a note in the letter that states, “The records
further indicate subject revolver also features a long
grip configuration and metford rifling.” This was a 12 gun
shipment. This extremely rare Metford rifled .450 caliber
Colt London Single Action Army Flattop Target revolver is
wearing a set of factory extended checkered walnut grips.
A small handful of other Flattop Target revolvers are known
with identical factory extended grips. These extended
grips were the predecessor that led to the design of the
Bisley Target revolvers. The .450 Boxer/Eley is 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.
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