Colt Single Action Army Bisley SAA 1st Gen .41 LC Revolver, 1897 Antique
SOLD FOR: $3811
LSB#: 230914LM061
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, Bisley Model
Serial Number: 168428
Year of Manufacture: 1897 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .41 Long Colt
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading-Gate Cylinder
Barrel Length: 7 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade. The rear sight is “V”-notch in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece checkered black hard rubber with rampant colts in ovals at their tops. The interior of each grip is hand-scribed with a non-matching number. The grips show handling wear, more notable on the left panel, with some areas going to a brown color. The checkering is visible, well defined in some areas but worn in others. There are some small nicks and light scratches. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition as Antique and not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Colored
Finish Originality: The finish is Original. We contacted Colt Archives, but this serial number is not in their records. We were not able to confirm the originality of the checkering in the grip straps or trigger.
Bore Condition: The bore has been quite expertly relined. The bore is mostly bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion, but there is a little stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The grip areas show handling wear. The frame has areas of strong case color with some other areas muted. The cylinder has some scattered finish wear and minor surface erosion. There is infrequent minor surface oxidation. There are a few light nicks and small scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. The inside of each portion of the grip frame is marked “1215”, but we do not know the significance of these markings. Overall, this revolver is in Fine-plus condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up minor play on each chamber. The cylinder has a removable bushing. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Colt Bisley was introduced in 1894 as a target pistol. The name Bisley came from the famous firing range in Bisley, England. The Colt Bisley can be distinguished by the longer grip, the wider hammer spur, and the wider trigger. Bisleys were serial-numbered in the range of 156300–331916, in the same sequence as the Single Action Army.
This example is in quite nice condition given its age. It retains the great majority of its original finish, strong mechanics, and the bore has been re-lined so it also has a very nice bore. The revolver has a 7 1/2″ barrel and is chambered for the .41 Long Colt cartridge, not a particularly common chambering. It also has checkering on its grip straps and trigger, though Colt is missing the record for this serial number and we could not confirm if this is a factory features. This would make a nice Colt to add to any collection and with the new bore it should still prove to be quite the shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
