EXTREMELY RARE COLT FLAT TOP TARGET SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER WITH EXTENDED GRIP.

SN 144729. Cal. 450 Eley. All blue finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, blued target front sight with 1-line Hartford and “DEPOT 14 PALL MALL LONDON” address and caliber marking on left side. Frame is flat top style with fixed target rear sight, left side of frame has 2-line 3 patent dates and Rampant Colt in the circle. Mounted with extremely rare, diamond checkered, extra long walnut grips that are matching numbered to this revolver. Toe & heel of grip frame are sharp versus the rounded configuration usually found in order to accommodate the extended grip without leaving a gap. Bore has Metford rifling. Bottom of bbl and cylinder have tiny British proofs. Accompanied by its orig green baize lined English oak casing that has an empty medallion in the lid and a “J.H. CRANE” paper distributor label inside the lid. Bottom is compartmented for the revolver with several non-orig tools, plus an “L” shaped Colt semi-auto pistol screwdriver. Left center of the bottom has a cartridge block with spaces for 42 cartridges. Also accompanied by a Colt Factory letter which identifies this revolver in cal. 450 with 7-1/2″ bbl, blue finish, extra long wood stocks and shipped to Colt’s London agency, June 1892 in a 1 gun shipment. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, out of the approximate 357,000 single actions produced there were 914 flat-top target revolvers and only about 50 of these had the extended grip. The chart on pg 174 of the referenced publication shows only 84 flattop single actions were produced in cal. 450 Eley. Extrapolating those numbers discloses that only about 9% of the total flat-top production was in cal. 450 Eley. On pg 251 of the referenced publication, Mr. Cochran states that he had examined 10 long-grip revolvers of which 4 were in cal. 450 Eley, and only 2 had the London address. This exact revolver, identified by SN in pictures on pg. 250 and 251 of the reference publication. Regardless, this is an exceptionally rare Colt Single Action revolver. PROVENANCE: Estate Collection of Tommy Rholes. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 88-90% glossy orig blue with 3 spots of flaking and some scrape marks on the bottom adjacent to the base pin; ejector housing retains about 60% strong orig blue, showing wear on the outer radius; frame retains about 50% orig blue with the balance having mostly flaked to a medium patina, showing wear on the recoil shield and loading gate; trigger guard retains blue in sheltered areas with the front strap and back strap a blue/brown patina; buttstrap retains about 90% glossy orig blue; cylinder retains strong blue in the flutes, flaked and thinning on the outer diameter with a light drag line. Grips are very fine showing light diamond point wear and retain most of their orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of pitting. Case has a couple of cracks and is missing a couple of splinters on the bottom, otherwise is sound; interior is lightly faded and soiled; accessories are all fine. 4-50756 JR91 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 3111

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	3111	$23,000.00	EXTREMELY RARE COLT FLAT TOP TARGET SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER WITH EXTENDED GRIP. SN 144729. Cal. 450 Eley. All blue finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, blued target front sight with 1-line Hartford and “DEPOT 14 PALL MALL LONDON” address and caliber marking on left side. Frame is flat top style with fixed target rear sight, left side of frame has 2-line 3 patent dates and Rampant Colt in the circle. Mounted with extremely rare, diamond checkered, extra long walnut grips that are matching numbered to this revolver. Toe & heel of grip frame are sharp versus the rounded configuration usually found in order to accommodate the extended grip without leaving a gap. Bore has Metford rifling. Bottom of bbl and cylinder have tiny British proofs. Accompanied by its orig green baize lined English oak casing that has an empty medallion in the lid and a “J.H. CRANE” paper distributor label inside the lid. Bottom is compartmented for the revolver with several non-orig tools, plus an “L” shaped Colt semi-auto pistol screwdriver. Left center of the bottom has a cartridge block with spaces for 42 cartridges. Also accompanied by a Colt Factory letter which identifies this revolver in cal. 450 with 7-1/2″ bbl, blue finish, extra long wood stocks and shipped to Colt’s London agency, June 1892 in a 1 gun shipment. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, out of the approximate 357,000 single actions produced there were 914 flat-top target revolvers and only about 50 of these had the extended grip. The chart on pg 174 of the referenced publication shows only 84 flattop single actions were produced in cal. 450 Eley. Extrapolating those numbers discloses that only about 9% of the total flat-top production was in cal. 450 Eley. On pg 251 of the referenced publication, Mr. Cochran states that he had examined 10 long-grip revolvers of which 4 were in cal. 450 Eley, and only 2 had the London address. This exact revolver, identified by SN in pictures on pg. 250 and 251 of the reference publication. Regardless, this is an exceptionally rare Colt Single Action revolver. PROVENANCE: Estate Collection of Tommy Rholes. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 88-90% glossy orig blue with 3 spots of flaking and some scrape marks on the bottom adjacent to the base pin; ejector housing retains about 60% strong orig blue, showing wear on the outer radius; frame retains about 50% orig blue with the balance having mostly flaked to a medium patina, showing wear on the recoil shield and loading gate; trigger guard retains blue in sheltered areas with the front strap and back strap a blue/brown patina; buttstrap retains about 90% glossy orig blue; cylinder retains strong blue in the flutes, flaked and thinning on the outer diameter with a light drag line. Grips are very fine showing light diamond point wear and retain most of their orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of pitting. Case has a couple of cracks and is missing a couple of splinters on the bottom, otherwise is sound; interior is lightly faded and soiled; accessories are all fine. 4-50756 JR91 (30,000-50,000) – Lot 3111 Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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EXTREMELY RARE COLT FLAT TOP TARGET SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER WITH EXTENDED GRIP.