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LOT 172
Highly Desirable Documented Nickel Plated Antique
Colt London Single Action Army Revolver in Exceptionally
Rare .476 Caliber with Factory Letter - Serial no. 121435, 476
cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. The
accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as part of a June 26,
1890, shipment of 12 guns delivered to Colt’s London Agency at 14 Pall
Mall, London, England, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .476 caliber and nickel finish, with
type of stocks not listed. This is only the second .476 Single Action Army we have had
the honor to catalog, with the example previously sold being from a different shipment
nearly one year later (Lot 127, August 2022 Premier Auction). This example is one of
only 12 examples total manufactured in this specific configuration, having nickel finish
in .476 caliber with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, according to page 379 of “The Official Record of
the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895” (published 2008) by Wilkerson and Hoyt, which
lists a total of 163 made in .476 caliber in 5 configurations. The authors, Graham, Kopec, and Moore, of the book “A Study of the
Colt Single Action Army Revolver,” (published 1976) show a slightly different production total and count the .476 caliber among
the “twelve known calibers that Colt manufactured in the standard SA which had a total production of less than 161 revolvers.
All but one of those twelve calibers were sold primarily to the domestic trade. The low return percentage (less than 4% known)
of .476 caliber Single Actions to the United States has deprived many of this country’s collectors from owning this interesting
variation.” as stated on page 53. “The .476 guns are extremely rare, and only a few of the 161 standard frame pieces have returned
to the United States.” per author David Brown on page 34 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” (published 1965).
An included Douglas
R. Carlson
catalog, dated
June 20,
1994, with
this revolver
indicates that many of these .476 revolvers ended up
subsequently heading to South Africa and Australia, and this
one reportedly found its way back to the United States out of South Africa. The first known shipment of .476 Single Action
Army revolvers to Colt’s London Agency occurred in October 1885. This shipment was for 100 Single Action Army revolvers
chambered in .476. Over the next few years Colt shipped an additional 61 standard frame revolvers in this caliber to London. This
.476 Single Action Army was part of the 61 units that made it to England after the first initial shipment of 100.
Forever linked to the American West, the Colt Single Action Army Revolver is arguably the most famous American revolver of all time.
But the most famed American revolver was also marketed overseas. Entering foreign markets required chambering the American design in
foreign cartridges. Cartridges such as .450, .455 and .476 catered to British customers, and Single Action Army revolvers chambered in these cartridges
have become highly sought after by collectors. The .476 cartridge was the largest factory offered caliber Colt offered in the Single Action Army. To
accommodate the rim size of the cartridge, the standard frame had to be cut to achieve more cylinder space. Also known as the Enfield Mark III Ball
cartridge, the .476 was introduced in 1881 and phased out in 1887 but continued to be produced at the Woolrich Arsenal until March 1893 and the
Dum Dum ammunition factory in India until 1918. The cartridge was used for a short time in British service before being replaced by .455 Webley Mark I.
This is an exceedingly rare caliber to find in Colt model revolvers of the era, especially those in the United States.
The barrel has the one-line Pall Mall, London, address on top and “476-CAL” on the left side. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates
marking. London proofs appear on the underside of the barrel and behind each cylinder flute. The
matching full serial number appears on the frame, trigger guard and butt, with matching “435” on the rear
surface of the cylinder, and assembly number “255” on the loading gate. The revolver is wearing checkered
hard rubber grips with the encircled Rampant Colt logo and federal eagle.
CONDITION: Fine, with an attractive natural appearance, retains 75% original nickel plated finish with some
flaking showing characteristic smooth brown patina on the balance, and distinct markings and edges
overall. Grips are very fine with one nick along the bottom right edge, and crisp checkering and designs.
Does not remain in half cock, otherwise mechanically functions. An extraordinary prize in Colt collecting,
this Colt London black powder Single Action Army Revolver in exceptionally rare .476 caliber is worthy of
the finest public or private collections!
Provenance: Douglas R. Carlson; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 27,500 - 45,000
According to "The Official Record of
the Colt Single Action Army Revolver
1873-1895" by Wilkerson & Hoyt, only
163 Colt Single Action Army Revolvers
were chambered in .476, of which only
12 were in this configuration. 179