EXCEPTIONALLY RARE PRE-1899 ANTIQUE BISLEY IN SCARCE .38 COLT CALIBER, 5 1/2”, LETTER

Description:
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE PRE-1899 ANTIQUE BISLEY IN SCARCE .38 COLT CALIBER, 5 ½”, COLT LETTER, #176XXX, SHIPPED 1898. It’s difficult to find any Bisley Model in the antique serial number range. Most of the antique Bisley’s I’ve seen were flat top target models in .455 or standard models in the same caliber that went to England. Most Bisley revolvers that I’ve encountered over the last decades have been made in the 1901-1908 years with some earlier and some later. The most common caliber was .32-20 with 13,291 made followed by .38-40 with 12,613 made, .45 Colt had 8,005 made with .44-40 having 6,803 produced, and finally .41 Colt with 3,159 made. These were considered the standard calibers for the Bisley. This example is in .38 Colt caliber with only 412 made. There is no data concerning how many were made before 1899, but it couldn’t have been more than a small handful at most. The Colt letter verifies the caliber, 5 ½” barrel, rubber grips and indicates that it was shipped to Colt’s San Francisco, California Agency on March 8, 1898, shipment of 2 guns. This one shows good barrel blue on the top, bottom, and around the side portion above the ejector housing. The left side is mostly gray from holster carry. Fine blue on the top and bottom of the ejector housing with the outside gray, also from holster carry. Cylinder is mostly gray with some very thin blue and good blue in the cylinder flutes. The grip straps and bottom of the trigger guard bow are gray with some good blue around tyhe hammer, on the butt and around the trigger guard. Screws are excellent and still show some good fire blue. Excellent cylinder pin. Exc. markings. The frame retains case color in small amounts ahead of the cylinder and some very light wispy color on the sides with the balance faded to a mottled gray that has never been cleaned or scrubbed. Still some case color on the back and sides of the hammer. Grips are numbered to this revolver and all other numbers match. Grips show modest wear with no cracks or chips. Front sight has not been filed or altered. Four clicks to the hammer, tight action and exc. bore that shows a little leading that ought to brush out. In all, an extremely rare caliber Bisley PLUS an antique serial number with Western shipped letter! 
 

Antique: Yes
Handgun Caliber: .38 Long Colt
Manufacturer: COLT
Model: BISLEY
Serial Number: 176XXX
Barrel Length: 5 1/2
Condition: FINE
Bore Condition: EXCELLENT

Price: $4,250.00