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LOT 3116
Rare Cased Consecutively Serial Numbered Pair of Documented London Agency Shipped
Antique Colt Bisley Flattop Target Model Single Action Army Revolvers in .455 Eley with
Factory Letters -A) Antique Colt Bisley Flattop Target Model Single Action Army Revolver -
Serial no. 161392, 455 Eley cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This is an extremely
rare opportunity to be able to acquire a cased consecutively serial numbered pair of London Agency
shipped antique Colt Bisley Flattop Target Model Single Action Army revolvers, bearing serial
numbers 161392 and 161393, that appear to have been together throughout the course of their
lifetime. Both revolvers have accompanying factory letters indicating they were part of the same
original shipment of 50 in May of 1895, to Colt’s London Agency at 14 Pall Mall in London, England,
in .455 Eley, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and wood grips, with the further remark on both
of the included letters, “The exact shipping date is illegible. The date of the prior shipment is noted
as May 18th and the shipment after is noted as May 29th.” Colt Bisley Flattop Target revolvers are
considered scarce, w ith only 976 in total reportedly manufactured, per page 268 of the “The Book
of Colt Firearms” by Sutherland and Wilson. This is one of only approximately 196 Colt Bisley Flattop
Target revolvers chambered for the .455 Eley cartridge, per page 38 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt
Single Action Army” by David Brown, in which the author states, “British target shooters liked the .455
Eley Bisley Model Flat-tops for competitive shooting on the Bisley Range in England, from which the
model gets its name.” These were the premium Colt target revolvers of the day. Both revolvers are
identical in configuration and have the distinctive Bisley Model features which include the higher
frame, humpback grip area, curved hammer with wide knurled spur, and wide checkered trigger. Both
revolvers also feature the scarce flattop frame, with a raised fixed blade target front sight and dovetail
mounted “V” notch rear sight. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line Colt Hartford
address, with “455 ELEY.” on the left. London proofmarks on the barrel and cylinder. 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 full serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with
matching “1392” on rear of the cylinder, and assembly number “54” on the loading gate. Includes a
period leather wrapped case with “COLTS 45. 95. M” stamped on top and a partial old shipment label
on bottom, with red felt lined fitted interior housing the pair, and a full 50-count box of Dominion
brand .455 Colt smokeless cartridges. This looks like a proper carrying case for a serious competition
shooter of the time.