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LOT 1138
Extremely Rare Documented 5 1/2 Inch Barrel Colt London Black Powder
Single Action Flattop Target Revolver with Factory Letter, Once in the Mel
Torme Collection - Serial no. 127741, 450 Boxer cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue
finish, elongated checkered walnut grips. This Colt Single Action Army Flattop
Target Revolver letters in .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 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 29 had a blue
finish and 5 ½ inch barrel like this example (page 405). This is certainly a rarity
in SAA collecting! These revolvers are highly regarded and sought after by
collectors. In the 1880s the .450 became a popular short range target cartridge.
The accompanying factory letter addressed to acclaimed American singer and
famous Colt collector Mel Torme confirms the 5 1/2 inch barrel in .450 Boxer,
blue finish, 4 1/2 lb. trigger pull, and flattop target frame and indicates the
revolver originally left the factory with “an extra long stock”. The letter also states
the revolver was shipped to Colt’s London Agency, London, England, on October
29, 1888. This shipment was for three guns. The top of the barrel has the one-
line Colt Pall Mall, London address. The left side of the frame has the three-line
patent dates marking. “45 CAL/B” is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard.
The revolver has target sights, London proofs on the underside of the barrel
and behind each cylinder flute, and matching serial numbers on the frame,
trigger guard, and back strap. The cylinder is numbered to the gun with the
last two digits of the serial number (“41”). Formerly of the Mel Torme collection,
nicknamed “The Velvet Fog,” Torme was a musical prodigy. In songwriting, Torme
is best known for composing the music and co-writing the lyrics to the holiday
classic “The Christmas Song” (commonly subtitled “Chestnuts Roasting on an
Open Fire,” which references the opening line) in 1945.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% bright original high polish blue finish with
thinning to brown on the balance (mostly on the grip straps). The replacement
grips are very good, showing wear. Mechanically functions. A nearly impossible
to find documented antique black powder Colt London Single Action Flattop
Target Revolver with 5 1/2 inch barrel that is a must have for
the serious SAA collector.
Provenance: The Mel Torme Collection; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000
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