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Scarce Cased Colt Hartford/Pall Mall Marked Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Scarce Cased Colt Hartford/Pall Mall Marked Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter
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Estimate: $12000 - 16000
This is a fine example of a cased Colt Single Action Army Revolver with "Hartford/Pall Mall" barrel address. The Colt factory letter that accompanies the revolver describes it as being chambered for the .45 Ely Short cartridge with a blue finish; the barrel length and type of stocks are not listed in the letter. The letter states that this revolver was one of 56 shipped to the Colt London Agency, 14 Pall Mall, London England on October 11, 1877. The revolver has an English style oak case with oval brass plate in the lid engraved with the initials "ETB". The case is lined with dark green felt and has a twenty-eight round oak cartridge block and four compartments. The Colt London Agency instruction sheet for "COLT'S NEW .450 BORE GOVERNMENT ARMY PISTOL" is glued to the inside of the case lid. The case is complete with: (1) glass oil bottle with plated top, (2) key, (3) twenty-four Kynoch .450 cartridges, and (5) a steel cleaning rod with turned wooden head. The revolver has a blued barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap, casehardened frame, hammer and loading gate and one-piece, varnished, walnut stocks. The ejector housing has the early "Bullseye" head and the hammer has elongated, bordered, knurling on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. DEPOT 14. PALL MALL LONDON." in a single line. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt 'three-date in three-line' patent marking. "45 CAL/B" is stamped on the left shoulder of the trigger guard in two lines. Small "Crown/P" and "Crown/V" London proof and inspection marks are stamped on the underside of the barrel and above each cylinder chamber. The inside of the loading gate is stamped with the assembly or batch number "2348". The full serial number, "38918" is located on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number, "8918" is stamped on the underside of the barrel and the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. Colt manufactured 1,150 Single Action Army revolvers chambered for the .455 Eley cartridge and Pall Mall marked. Single Action Army revolvers in the original London cases are scarce.
BBL: 5 1/2 inch
Stock:
Gauge: 45 Eley Short
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 38918
Condition: Fine. The revolver retains 30% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish. Strong traces of the original high polish blue finish are visible on the underside of the barrel and protected areas of ejector housing trigger guard and back strap. Faded case colors are visible on the sides of the frame and hammer. The cylinder and the balance of the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap have a smooth, silver-gray patina with scattered age discoloration. The grips remain in very fine condition and retain most of the high polish varnish finish. Markings on the barrel, frame and cylinder are sharp. The cylinder pin screw is an old replacement. The action needs work as the hand spring is broken. The correct, original case is in very good condition with light to moderate handling wear on the exterior. The green felt lining is dusty and there is a tear in the lining on the right side of the case from contact with the front sight. The case label is also in very fine overall condition with some minor age discoloration and contact marks from cartridges and the revolver cylinder. The overall condition of the case interior is very good. The oil bottle and cleaning rod are in very good condition. This is a fine example of a Colt Single Action Army revolver with "PALL MALL" barrel address, London proofmarks and original London case and accessories.