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LOT 167
Rare Colt Manager Albert Foster, Jr. Shipped Colt
Single Action Army Flattop Target Model Revolver with Rare .44 Russian Caliber Marking and Factory Letter -
Serial no. 156472, 44 Russian cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1894. It is one of only
925 Single Action Army Flattop Target Revolvers in all calibers Colt Manufactured between 1888 and 1896. It is one of only 51
Flattop Target models chambered in .44 Russian, so surviving examples are scarce in any condition and are highly regarded
and sought after by collectors. This is an exceptional example well deserving of the finest collection. Colt historian and author
David Brown notes the rarity of the caliber: “The .44 Russian cartridge had become popular in several competitive revolvers, so
Colt made it also in the Single Action. They were not mass produced, were made on special orders only, so the caliber also is considered
rare” (“The 36 Caliber of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 112). These Flattop Target revolvers predominantly fell into the serial number range
of 127,000 to 163,000. Not only rare, these revolvers were a very attractive variation, finished in all high polished blue finish with a casehardened
hammer. As for the revolver, the top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”, the left side of the barrel is marked “44
RUSSIAN CTG.,” and the two line, three patent dates on the lower left side of the frame followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The upper left front of
the trigger guard bow is marked with the Colt “VP” triangle proof with a “W” on the rear. The matching serial number on the frame, trigger guard,
and back strap, with the loading gate marked with the assembly number “15”. Front blade sight and standard dovetailed rear target sight. There is a
non-factory drilled and tapped hole on the top and front straps. Fitted with checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt in an oval at the top.
The accompanying factory letter dated October 2, 1958, verifies the .44 S&W caliber (same as 44 Russian), 7 1/2 inch barrel and blue finish, with no mention of grips and
interesting enough the revolver was not shipped 18 years after manufactured and shipped to Albert Foster Jr., the Manager of Colt’s New York Office, on March 16, 1912.
Foster had his own personal gun collection with well over 1,000 pieces. After he died in the late 1940s, his collection was sold by
James Serven.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The revolver retains 85% plus original blue finish with some wear on the barrel, a smooth brown patina
on the back strap, a mix of smooth brown patina and thin blue finish on the front strap and some minor circular scratches around
one of the two non-factory filler screw taps on the top strap. There is also one on the rear of the trigger guard. The grips have faded
to brown and remain very fine with a few minor handling marks and crisp checkering. The markings are crisp and clear. Mechanically
excellent. A high condition, highly sought after Colt Single Action Army Flattop Target Revolver in rare .44 Russian that will be a
welcomed addition to any SAA collection no
matter how advanced.
Provenance: The Gateway
Collection.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
According to "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single
Action Army" by Brown, of the 925 Colt Single
Action Army Flattop Target Revolvers manufactured,
only 51 were chambered in .44 Russian.
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