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LOT 1178
Exceptional Colt Bisley Flattop Target Model Single Action Army Revolver in Rare .32 Colt with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 310476, 32 Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut grips. The
accompanying factory letter states this revolver was sold to F.P. Hall Co. and shipped in a single gun shipment
on August 4, 1909, to Van Camp Hardware & Iron Co. in Indianapolis, Indiana, in .32 Colt caliber, with a 7
1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and type of grips not listed. Colt Bisley Flattop Target revolvers are considered
scarce, with only 976 in total reportedly manufactured, per page 268 of the “The Book of Colt Firearms” (1971
publication) by Sutherland and Wilson. This particular example is rarer in that it is one of only approximately
44 total of these Colt Bisley Flattop Target revolvers chambered for the .32 Colt cartridge, per page 202 of “The
36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” (published 1965) by David Brown. The revolver has the distinctive
Bisley Model features which include the higher frame, humpback grip and back strap, curved hammer with
wide knurled spur, wide trigger, and two-piece deluxe checkered walnut humpback grips. Features a beaded
blade target front sight and dovetail mounted notch rear sight, and the flattop frame. The top of the barrel is
roll-stamped with the one-line Hartford legend, with “(BISLEY MODEL) 32 COLT.” on the left of the barrel. The
left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the two-line, three-date patent markings followed by the encircled
Rampant Colt trademark. Matching visible full serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with
an unnumbered cylinder, and assembly number “20” on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 85% plus bright original blue finish, with a cylinder drag line, a few areas
of minor thinning, strong patterns of original case colors showing on the hammer, and sharp markings and
edges in the metal overall. Grips are very fine, with distinct edges, some spots of minor outer surface flaking, a
few minor handling marks, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. An excellent Colt Bisley Flattop Target
Model Single Action Army revolver in rare .32 Colt!
Provenance: Morris Bell; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 12,000 - 20,000
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