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LOT 1143
Scarce Colt Bisley Flattop Target Model Single
Action Army Revolver in .32-20 W.C.F. with Factory Letter - Serial no. 243117, 32-20 WCF cal., 7
1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as
shipped in a 1 gun shipment on June 25, 1903, to Simmons Hardware Company in St. Louis, Missouri, for
Morse Hardware Company in Bellingham, Washington, in .32-20 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” by Sutherland and Wilson. This particular example is rarer in that it is one of only approximately 131 Colt Bisley
Flattop Target revolvers chambered for the .32-20 WCF cartridge, per page 190 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” by David Brown. The
revolver has the distinctive Bisley Model features which include the higher frame, humpback grip area, curved hammer with wide knurled spur, and
wide trigger. Features the scarce flattop frame, with a period ivory blade target front sight and dovetail mounted notch rear sight. The top of the barrel
is roll-stamped with the one-line Hartford legend, with “(BISLEY MODEL) 32 W.C.F.” on the left of the barrel. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped
with the two-line patent date markings followed by the encircled Rampant Colt trademark. Matching visible serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and
back strap, with an unnumbered cylinder, and assembly number “1111” on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original bright blue finish with a few areas of light thinning to gray and brown patinas, some minor oxidation, and
crisp markings. Grips are very fine with a brown appearance, a few minor handling marks, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1144
Silver Plated Antique Colt Model 1878 Double Action Revolver with Square Butt - Serial no.
1887, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., silver finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured c. 1879.
Offered here is a silver plated Colt Model 1878 revolver with a unique square shaped butt of the grip
frame resembling that of the Colt New Service revolvers; the only example like it witnessed by this writer, as
standard Model 1878 revolvers have a round shape grip frame. The revolver appears to have been factory made this way.
Designed by William Mason, Colt’s factory manager, and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards, Superintendent of Engineering, the Model 1878 revolver was
intended to be a double action alternative to Colt’s legendary Single Action Army revolver. The top of the barrel is marked with the one-line Hartford
address, with “45 CAL” on the left of the trigger guard, serial number “1887” marked behind the trigger guard, and assembly number “27” on the
loading gate. The revolver has a silver finish with a replacement nickel plated hammer, trigger, and cylinder release, and niter blue finished loading gate
and screws. It is fitted with a blade front sight, groove top strap rear sight, and a lanyard swivel on the butt.
CONDITION: Very fine overall, retains 95% factory quality period applied silver plated finish with an attractive age darkened appearance, much of the nickel finish on the
hammer and trigger, marring on the cylinder pin, handling marks, a few nicks and a crack in the upper left grip with defined checkering. Mechanically functions. A likely one-of-
a-kind Colt Model 1878 revolver with square butt, worthy of further research and would be a welcome addition to a high quality Colt collection!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
Collector’s Fact
According to "The 36 Calibers
of the Colt Single Action Army"
by Brown, of the 976 Colt Bisley
Flattop Target Model Single Action
revolvers produced, only 131 were
chambered in .32-20 W.C.F.