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Collector’s Fact
According to author David Brown, only 10 Standard Frame Colt Bisley Revolvers were produced in .38 Smith & Wesson.
LOT 3142
Documented Individual Shipped Colt Bisley Single Action Army
Revolver in Ultra Rare .38 S&W with Holster and Factory Letter - Serial no.
213993, 38 S&W cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Offered here is an extreme rarity in Colt SAA collecting as it
is one of only 10 standard frame Bisleys chambered in .38 S&W (See David Brown’s “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 166). You are certainly looking at one of the rarest First Generation SAAs to come out
of the Colt factory! “The [.38 S&W] cartridge is one of the lightest loads available in .38 caliber factory ammunition,” wrote David Brown in “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,”“and the heavy frame of the Colt Single Action combines with this light loading to permit extra accuracy.”The .38 S&W caliber was only available on
special order, and its extreme rarity means that SAAs in this caliber are often missing from even the most prestigious collections. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 7 1/2 inch barrel in .38 S&W and blue finish with the type of stocks not listed. The letter also states the revolver was shipped to H. Van W. Myer (address not available) on August 28, 1901. This was a single gun shipment. It is rare for us to catalog a SAA being shipped to an individual. H. Van W. Myer of Newark, New Jersey, was a prominent engineer who was granted several U.S. patents. By 1901 he was wealthy enough to own a summer home in Madison, New Jersey, where he raised and traded in fine horses. The barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top and has the correct model/ caliber designation (“(BISLEY MODEL) FOR 38 S&W CTG.”) on the left side. The left side of the frame has the standard two-line patent dates followed by an encircled Rampant Colt. Both grip panels are marked with the matching partial serial number “3993” on the back.
The matching full serial number “213993” appears on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The period leather holster has a wonderful floral tool pattern covering the front body.
CONDITION: Very good, displaying a classic as found patina on a well-traveled Bisley while retaining traces of original blue finish in the sheltered areas, especially on the barrel under the ejector rod housing, and silvered out original case colors.
The heavily worn grips show similar
character and are also in good condition
for spending a lifetime in a holster and in
a hand. Mechanically needs work as the
third click is absent; otherwise, the action functions properly. The holster is very good with overall tight stitching. This original Colt Bisley Revolver in .38 S&W with all the hallmarks of authentic use is an extreme rarity in Colt collecting. It will be a long time before you see another example.
Provenance: The Gary Burghoff Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 11,000
Collector’s Fact
Of the 976 Colt Flattop Bisley Revolver manufactured, only 131 were chambered in .32 WCF.
LOT 3143
Scarce Documented
Colt Bisley Flattop Target Model Single Action Revolver
in .32 WCF with Factory Letter - Serial no. 326579, 32 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. This is one of only 976 Bisley Flattop
Target Revolvers manufactured by Colt and one of only approximately 131 chambered in .32 WCF (see
David Brown’s “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 190). “The .32-20 W.C.F. cartridge had good range and accuracy,” wrote Brown. “It is very easy to shoot as it does not make the revolver buck as the larger calibers do.” Today these scarce revolvers are highly sought after by Colt collectors. It has the correct all blue flattop frame and pinned blade and dovetailed notch target sights. The barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top and “(BISLEY MODEL) 32 W.C.F.” on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by a Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger guard has a Colt factory verified proof and number “1”.
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The loading gate has the
assembly number “17”,
and the back of the frame
has the assembly number “7” (likely a factory error). Matching
serial numbers are found on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder (“6579”), and back of both grip panels (“6579”). The Colt factory letter states this revolver as being a Bisley flattop target, caliber 32-20, 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, stocks unlisted, sold to Blair’s Sporting Goods Co., shipped to W.B. Jarvis Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 30, 1914, one gun shipment.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 50% original blue finish with smooth brown-gray patina on the balance. The grips are also fine with some scattered handling marks and slight wear to the top of the checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500