Colt 1st Gen Bisley Single Action Army SAA .32 WCF 7 1/2″ Revolver 1908 C&R

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SOLD FOR: $2,950.00

LSB#: LSB260416SH007

Make: Colt

Model: Bisley Model Single Action Revolver

Serial Number: 307337

Year of Manufacture: 1908 / C&R (Colt Serial Number Lookup)

Caliber: .32 WCF / .32-20

Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate and Cylinder

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “(BISLEY MODEL) 32 W.C.F.”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT F.A. MFG. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT, 19, 1871” / “JULY 2,72. JAN. 19,75” with the circled Rampant Colt logo. The bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and butt of the frame are marked with the serial number. The loading gate is marked with assembly number “440”.

Barrel Length: 7 1/2″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade at the muzzle. The rear sight is a ‘V’ notch the length of the topstrap, visible when the hammer is cocked.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece, checkered hard rubber, with a Rampant Colt inside an oval. There are scattered handling scratches and compression marks/dings. There are no chips or cracks on the grips. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Blued, Color Case

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is pitting and erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 60% of its finish. There are overall handling scratches and wear marks. The blue finish has started showing patina, with protected areas showing original blue. There is thinning of the finish throughout. The bottom of the barrel by the cylinder pin shows tooling. There are areas of oxidation and pitting along the barrel and the cylinder. The screw heads are strong and sharp, showing minor tooling. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good-Fine condition as C&R.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup is tight. There is minor end shake. We did not fire this revolver. 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 Model was introduced as a target-oriented variation of the Single Action Army pattern, with a distinctive grip shape, lower-profile hammer, and trigger configuration intended to support more deliberate one-handed shooting. Though it shared much of the same mechanical heritage as the standard Colt single action, the Bisley developed its own collector following due to its unique handling, comparatively limited production, and availability in desirable period chamberings. This 1st Generation example was manufactured in 1908, is C&R eligible, and is chambered in .32 WCF, also known as .32-20.

This Colt Bisley Model Single Action Revolver is a .32 WCF / .32-20 single-action revolver with a 7 1/2″ barrel, side loading gate, fixed front blade sight, and V-notch rear sighting groove along the topstrap. The revolver retains about 60% of its original blue and case-colored finish, with handling scratches, wear marks, thinning throughout, patina developing in the blue, some original blue remaining in protected areas, tooling under the barrel near the cylinder pin, and areas of oxidation and pitting along the barrel and cylinder. The two-piece checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colt in an oval rate in Fine condition, showing scattered handling scratches and compression marks but no chips or cracks. The bore is bright with sharp rifling, though pitting and erosion are present, and rates 7/10 in this writer’s opinion. Mechanically, the action functions correctly, the cylinder lockup is tight, and there is minor endshake, though the revolver has not been test fired. Overall, this is a Very Good-Fine condition 1908 Colt 1st Generation Bisley in .32 WCF with desirable early Colt collector appeal, original finish, strong grip condition, and honest age-related metal and bore wear. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY