EXCEPTIONAL AND EARLY COLT BISLEY FLAT TOP TARGET REVOLVER.

SN 161396. 455 Eley Cal. All blue finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, steel target front sight in a rectangular base with 1-line block letter address and the left side marked “455 ELEY”. Bbl is marked on bottom with small “45” and small letter “V” and small British proofs that also appear in each flute of cyl. Matching SN 161396 is found on bottom of frame, trigger guard and backstrap. Last 4-digits of SN are found on back of cyl though mis-matched 1394 with small “L”. Left side of frame has 2-line, 3-patent dates and rampant Colt in broken circle. Frame is flat top style with dovetailed fixed rear sight. Screws & trigger are fire blued. Mounted with 2-pc wood grips as stated in factory letter with last 4-digits of SN penciled on each “1396”. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this revolver in caliber 455 Eley with 7-1/2″ bbl, blue finish, wood stocks, flat top target, sold and shipped to Colt London Agency, London, England on May 27, 1895 in a 50-gun shipment. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia by Keith Cochran, John Parsons compiled from careful examination of Colt shipping records that there were 977 Target Model Bisley revolvers produced in the period 1894-1913 of which 196 are listed in 45 Eley caliber which was the most commonly encountered Bisley Colt target sold however this is one of the earliest “Colt’s New Target Revolver 1895”. From A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver by Graham Kopec & Moore: “The new Target Model’s outstanding performance at England’s famous target shooing matches, held at Bisley Common, prompted Colts’ management to redesignate their ‘Special Target’ revolvers as the ‘Bisley Model Target’.” After serial range 161,000 most target models are encountered with bbl stamps “(BISLEY MODEL)”. Again according to Graham Kopec & Moore they cite the lack of the Bisley marking between SNs 156,300-160,900; this gun is out of that range but appear orig exhibiting same rounded military style front sight blade and checkered trigger as Colt orig marketed. This is a extremely fine example of an early “Special Target” revolver sent to the London Agency to later become better known as “Bisley Target Model”. PROVENANCE: Eric Vaule, Bridgewater, CT. Lewis Yearout 1968. Estate Collection of Lewis & Leyton Yearout. CONDITION: Extremely fine overall retaining 90-95% orig bright finish overall with areas of thinning on cyl turning plum, bbl has some freckling and 1/2″ area of pitting between ejector housing and front sight. Remainder of gun has scattered small areas of spotted staining. Markings are all crisp and well discerned. Stocks are sound, solid, well fit with slight edge wear, a few small dents and blemishes and retain most of their orig oiled finish. Mechanically gun functions well with bright shiny bore. 4-53888 JS65 (10,000-15,000) – Lot 3114

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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
	3114	$10,350.00	EXCEPTIONAL AND EARLY COLT BISLEY FLAT TOP TARGET REVOLVER. SN 161396. 455 Eley Cal. All blue finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, steel target front sight in a rectangular base with 1-line block letter address and the left side marked “455 ELEY”. Bbl is marked on bottom with small “45” and small letter “V” and small British proofs that also appear in each flute of cyl. Matching SN 161396 is found on bottom of frame, trigger guard and backstrap. Last 4-digits of SN are found on back of cyl though mis-matched 1394 with small “L”. Left side of frame has 2-line, 3-patent dates and rampant Colt in broken circle. Frame is flat top style with dovetailed fixed rear sight. Screws & trigger are fire blued. Mounted with 2-pc wood grips as stated in factory letter with last 4-digits of SN penciled on each “1396”. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this revolver in caliber 455 Eley with 7-1/2″ bbl, blue finish, wood stocks, flat top target, sold and shipped to Colt London Agency, London, England on May 27, 1895 in a 50-gun shipment. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia by Keith Cochran, John Parsons compiled from careful examination of Colt shipping records that there were 977 Target Model Bisley revolvers produced in the period 1894-1913 of which 196 are listed in 45 Eley caliber which was the most commonly encountered Bisley Colt target sold however this is one of the earliest “Colt’s New Target Revolver 1895”. From A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver by Graham Kopec & Moore: “The new Target Model’s outstanding performance at England’s famous target shooing matches, held at Bisley Common, prompted Colts’ management to redesignate their ‘Special Target’ revolvers as the ‘Bisley Model Target’.” After serial range 161,000 most target models are encountered with bbl stamps “(BISLEY MODEL)”. Again according to Graham Kopec & Moore they cite the lack of the Bisley marking between SNs 156,300-160,900; this gun is out of that range but appear orig exhibiting same rounded military style front sight blade and checkered trigger as Colt orig marketed. This is a extremely fine example of an early “Special Target” revolver sent to the London Agency to later become better known as “Bisley Target Model”. PROVENANCE: Eric Vaule, Bridgewater, CT. Lewis Yearout 1968. Estate Collection of Lewis & Leyton Yearout. CONDITION: Extremely fine overall retaining 90-95% orig bright finish overall with areas of thinning on cyl turning plum, bbl has some freckling and 1/2″ area of pitting between ejector housing and front sight. Remainder of gun has scattered small areas of spotted staining. Markings are all crisp and well discerned. Stocks are sound, solid, well fit with slight edge wear, a few small dents and blemishes and retain most of their orig oiled finish. Mechanically gun functions well with bright shiny bore. 4-53888 JS65 (10,000-15,000) – Lot 3114 Click here to view provenance 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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EXCEPTIONAL AND EARLY COLT BISLEY FLAT TOP TARGET REVOLVER.