GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE COLT BISLEY SHERIFF''S MODEL SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER. COLT BISLEY SHERIFF''S MODEL 259273 45 LONG COLT MODERN; C&R Cal. 45 Colt. Blue and color case hardened with 4" bbl, full front sight and 2-line address, marked on left side "(BISLEY MODEL") 45 COLT". Left side of frame has 2-line, 3-patent dates and Rampant Colt in a broken circle. Mounted with 2-pc Rampant Colt hard rubber grips with last two digits of matching SN inside each grip. Accompanied by several items of provenance from Dr. Cox which documents the purchase of this revolver from a gentleman named Ernest Head from St. Angelo, Texas in 1975. In this letter, Mr. Head states that this revolver has been in his family since 1913. He further states that his father worked for the Robertson Paint Company in St. Angelo and purchased the revolver from a painter. A Colt factory letter, dated June 1975, states that after 3 hours of research no shipping record or other info could be found. It appears that this revolver was produced in about 1904 although on page 266 of The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, there is a photograph of another 4" Sheriff''s Model Bisley, SN 259336 which is only 73 numbers later than this revolver and the shipping date is indicated as October 1911. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, there were 8500 Bisley Model revolvers chambered for the 45 Colt out of the approximately 44,350 produced, 1894-1912 of which, according to Mr. Wilson "Less than a dozen Sheriff''s Models were made". PROVENANCE: The Dr. Robert G. Cox Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, matching as noted. Bbl retains about 80% glossy orig blue with holster wear on both sides. Frame retains most of its orig case colors, bright in sheltered areas, stronger on right side, faded elsewhere. Hammer retains bright case colors on left side and back edge, faded on right side and top edge. Trigger retains about 90% fire blue, a little thin on the front. Cyl retains 85-90% orig blue, strong and bright in the flutes with some light etching and a little thinner on the outer diameter. Trigger guard and backstrap retain about 60-70% glossy orig blue, thin and turning plum on the front and backstraps with a series of scratches on heel of buttstrap. Grips are sound showing moderate wear. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. A chance to own a great Single Action rarity which has been out of circulation for 40 years! 50018-217 JR40 (12,500-17,500)