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Outstanding, Documented Colt London Black Powder Single Action Flattop Target Revolver in .450 Eley with Factory Letter and Case - Serial no. 143528, 450 Eley cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Offered here is an exceptional antique black powder frame Colt Single Action Army Flattop Target Revolver that letters in .450 Eley, 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. The designation ‘Eley’ or ‘Boxer’ was used interchangeably. Revolvers listed in .45 Eley in the record ledger may be listed on the shipping
invoice as .45 Boxer and vice versa.”The authors accounted for a total of 275 SAA .450 Boxer/Eley Flattop Target Revolvers falling in the 1-164100 serial number range and out of the 275 units 230 had a blue finish and 7 1⁄2 inch barrel like this example (page 405). In the 1880s the .450 became a popular short range target cartridge.
The accompanying factory letter confirms the 7 1⁄2 inch barrel in .450 Eley and blue finish with type of stocks not listed when shipped
to Colt’s London Agency on December 11, 1891. This was a 6 gun shipment. It features a barrel with the one-line Colt Pall Mall, London address on top and “450 ELEY” on the left side, a frame with the standard two-line patent dates marking followed by an encircled Rampant Colt, target sights, London proofs on the underside of the barrel and behind each cylinder flute, and matching full serial number on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The loading gate is marked with the assembly number “10.”
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