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LOT 3147
Excellent Cased Documented London Agency
Shipped Antique Colt Single Action Army
Revolver in .45 Eley Short (.450 Boxer) with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 28543, 45 Eley Short cal.,
5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut grips. Offered here is an excellent example of
an antique Colt Single Action Army chambered in the .45 Eley
Short. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as shipped on
October 26, 1876, in a 112 gun shipment, to Colt’s London Agency in London, England, in “.45 Ely Ctge Short”
caliber with finish, barrel length, and type of grip not listed. This Colt Single Action Army revolver 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 1873-1895” 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.” On page 373 of
the aforementioned book, the authors accounted for a total of 3,385 Single Action Army revolvers in .45 Eley
Short (.450 Boxer) falling in the 1-164100 serial number range, and 2,346 of those had blue finish and a 5
1/2 inch barrel. The one-line address “COLT’S PT.F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.” is marked on top of the
barrel. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent date markings. The left side of the trigger guard is
marked “45 CAL/B”. London proofs appear on the barrel and behind
each cylinder flute. Matching
visible full serial
numbers marked
on the frame,
trigger guard,
and butt, with
matching “8543”
on the cylinder,
and assembly number
“3368” on the loading gate. “12655”
stamped on the right butt of the grip.
The included partitioned oak case has
a Colt London Agency paper trade
label on the interior of the lid, and has
an internal cartridge block containing
24 rounds with “REM-UMC/450”
headstamps, and an “L” shaped
combination tool.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 90%
plus bright original high polish blue
finish and vivid case colors, with
some minor freckling, light cylinder
drag lines, absent left screw on the
trigger guard, and sharp markings
and edges in the metal overall. Grip
is also excellent, with nearly all of
the original glossy piano varnish
finish, light handling marks, very
tight fitment, and well-defined edges.
Mechanically excellent. Case is very
good with a few chips and age related
wear. This is a gorgeous example of a
London Agency shipped Colt Single
Action Army in .45 Eley Short!
Provenance: The Brig & Louise
Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
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