Extraordinarily scarce Colt Single Action Army Flattop Target Revolver, cal .455 Eley, made for the British trade in 1896 with factory letter showing shipment in 1902. One of only 37 revolvers completed in this configuration. High original condition and with a ream of supporting documentation. A fantastic ANTIQUE for the Colt SAA collector!

Description:

Very scarce Colt SAA Flattop Target single action revolver made for British trade in 1896, caliber .455 Eley, SN: 162898, with 7.5" barrel, screwed-in bead front sight and drift adjustable rear sight. One of only 37 such pistols made in this caliber with a ream of supporting documentation. Top of barrel marked "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." with left side of barrel stamped "455 ELEY." Left side of frame with "PAT. SEPT 19. 1871" and "JULY 2. 72 JAN 19. 75" with rampant Colt logo. SN: "162898" on trigger guard housing, frame, and butt with last three digits on back of cylinder. Loading gate with assembly #8. Color case hardened hammer. Fire blued trigger with checkered face. Original brown toned hard rubber grips with an encircled Rampant Colt within a checkered/bordered field. Complete with 1) Copies of pages from Keith Cochran's "Peacemaker British Model" picturing exact revolver on page 35, later referenced on page 145, 2) Copy of Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Volume 2, page 332 where this revolver was mentioned in concert with a brass muzzle cap (not included), 3) Certificate of Authenticity from Little John's Service / copy of page from catalog / sheet of prices realized showing sale of this revolver, then in a retailer/period presentation case, for $27K hammer in 2006, and 4) Original Colt factory letter dated August 1, 2006 showing shipment of this revolver to London Agency in May 1902.

Condition:

VG-EXC bright, factory original blue finish on the major components, slight muting/toning of the hammer. Screws retain the vast majority of their original fire blue with unmolested slots. Grip straps with slight thinning, the backstrap with a noticeable rub mark as imaged. Near excellent grips without splits or losses. Mirror bright bore. Correct manual mechanics. Crisp literature including the original documents from Little John's Service and Colt Factory letter.