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LOT 3133
Highly Desirable
Antique Colt London
Single Action
Army Revolver in
Exceptionally Rare
Documented .476
Caliber with Factory
Letter, Case, and
Ammunition Tin - Serial
no. 89180, 476 cal., 7 1/2
inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish,
hard rubber grips. The
accompanying factory
letter lists this revolver
as part of an October
22, 1885, shipment of
100 guns delivered to
Colt’s London Agency
in London, England, in
.476 caliber with a 7 1/2
inch barrel, blue finish,
and hard rubber grips.
This is only the third .476
Single Action Army we
have had the honor to
catalog, with the other
examples being from
later shipments than this
example (Lot 172, August 2025 Premier Auction and Lot 127, August 2022 Premier
Auction). This example is one of only 139 examples total manufactured in this specific
configuration, having blue finish in .476 caliber with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, according to page
379 of “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895” by Wilkerson
and Hoyt, which lists a total of 163 made in .476 caliber in 5 configurations. Graham, Kopec,
and Moore, in the book “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” show a slightly
different production total and count the .476 caliber among the “twelve known calibers that Colt
manufactured in the standard SA which had a total production of less than 161 revolvers. All but
one of those twelve calibers were sold primarily to the domestic trade. The low return percentage
(less than 4% known) of .476 caliber Single Actions to the United States has deprived many of this
country’s collectors from owning this interesting variation.” (page 53). “The .476 guns are extremely
rare, and only a few of the 161 standard frame pieces have returned to the United States.” per author
David Brown on page 34 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army”. The first known shipment
of .476 Single Action Army revolvers to Colt’s London Agency occurred in October 1885, for 100
revolvers, including this example. Many of these .476 revolvers ended up heading to South Africa and
Australia.
Forever linked to the American West, the Colt Single Action Army Revolver is arguably the most
famous American revolver of all time. But the most famed American revolver was also marketed
overseas. Entering foreign markets required chambering the American design in foreign cartridges.
Cartridges such as .450, .455, and .476 catered to British customers, and Single Action Army revolvers
chambered in these cartridges have become highly sought after by collectors. The .476 cartridge was
the largest factory offered caliber Colt offered in the Single Action Army.
To accommodate the rim size of the cartridge, the standard frame had to be cut to achieve more
cylinder space. Also known as the Enfield Mark III Ball cartridge, the .476 was introduced in 1881 and
phased out in 1887 but continued to be produced at the Woolrich Arsenal until March 1893 and the
Dum Dum ammunition factory in India until 1918. The cartridge was used for a short time in British
service before being replaced by .455 Webley Mark I. This is an exceedingly rare caliber to find in Colt
model revolvers of the era, especially those in the United States.
The barrel has the one-line Pall Mall, London, address on top. “476 CAL/B” marked on the left side of
the trigger guard. The left of the frame has the three-line patent date markings. London proofs appear
on the underside of the barrel and behind each cylinder flute. Matching visible full serial numbers on
the frame, trigger guard and butt, with matching “9180” on the cylinder, and assembly number “390”
on the loading gate. The revolver is wearing checkered hard rubber grips with the encircled Rampant
Colt logo and federal eagle. Includes a leather wrapped case with red felt lined fitted interior, Pall
Mall trade label on the interior of the lid, oiler, screwdriver, cleaning brush, 8 loose .476 caliber
cartridges, and a full 50-count Eley Bros ammunition tin of .476
caliber cartridges with partial label on the lid indicating it to be
Government Pattern 1882 Mark III ammunition.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% plus original blue finish, 40%
of the case colors, with smooth brown and gray patina on
the balance, some patches of minor surface oxidation, and
crisp markings. Grips are very good, with nicks and wear, and
otherwise defined designs. Mechanically excellent. Case is fine
with some storage wear. This is the largest caliber Colt First
Generation Single Action Army ever produced!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
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