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LOT 3129
Rare Cased Colt
London Agency Black
Powder Single Action Army
Revolver in .45 Eley Short
(.450 Boxer) with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 37183, 45 Eley
Short cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl.,
nickel finish, walnut grips. This is
an antique black powder frame
Colt Single Action Army Revolver
that letters in .45 Eley Short (.450
Boxer), 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 accompanying
factory letter lists this antique SAA as chambered in .45
Eley with nickel plating and barrel length and type of
stocks not listed as well as with a “special notation” listing
“short barrel.”The revolver has a 5 1/2 inch barrel with the one-line
Colt London address on top (“COLT’ PT.F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.
DEPOT 14 PALL MALL LONDON”) as is correct on lengths of 5 1/2 inches or more. The letter
confirms the revolver was shipped to the Colt London Agency, London, England, on March 17, 1879. This was a 20 unit shipment. In “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1872-1895” the authors accounted for a total of 3,385 Peacemakers in .45 Eley Short (.450 Boxer) falling in the 1-164100 serial number range and out of the 3,385 units only 264 had a nickel finish and 5 1/2 inch barrel. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking. The left side of the trigger guard is marked “45 CAL/B.” London proofs appear on the barrel and behind each cylinder flute. The partitioned oak case features a Colt London Agency paper label on the interior of the lid and contains a cartridge box holding sixteen .45 Eley rounds, “L” shipped tool, case key, and an oiler. CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 95% of the original nickel plating on the major components throughout and 90% plus nitre blue on the screw heads and cylinder pin. The back strap and butt retain 70% nickel with smooth gray patina on the balance. The loading gate has a patch of moderate pitting visible. The otherwise fine grip has an overcoat of varnish and a few dings. Mechanically excellent. The oak case is fine with minor handling/storage marks, absent lock escutcheon, and typical high edge wear and staining on the lining. These early, antique
Colt London Agency SAA revolvers in .45 Eley are scarce and missing from even
the most advanced collections.
Provenance: The Norm Vegely Collection.
Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000