Custom Colt Frontier Six Shooter SAA Bisley .44 Special Revolver, 1907 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,350.50
LSB#: LSB260323CL026
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army Frontier Six Shooter Bisley
Serial Number: 295941
Year of Manufacture: 1907 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: Originally .44-40, the revolver has been re-chambered for .44 Special
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Barrel Length: 7 1/2″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the topstrap
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at their tops. There is no legible serial marking on the grip interiors. The grips have even light-moderate handling wear with some scattered nicks and scratches. The checkering shows wear, but is visible and well-defined in some areas. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished. The cylinder has been altered and/or replaced. Some other parts may have been replaced.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, just a little stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 9+ out of 10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 65% of its current metal finish. The most notable wear is on the ejector housing and grip frame. There is more minor finish wear on the barrel, cylinder and frame. There is infrequent light erosion under the finish with some more notable erosion on the ejector housing. There are some light nicks, scuffs and 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 and incomplete. Overall, this revolver is in Good condition as refinished and customized.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup shows minor play on all six chambers. The trigger pull is crisp. We have not fired 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 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 a Bisley Model that has seen some customization. The barrel is marked Frontier Six Shooter, which would indicate it was chambered for the .44-40 Winchester cartridge. The installed cylinder appears to have been converted or replaced to use .44 Special cartridges, with straight-wall chambers measuring approximately 0.458″ at the rear and with throats of 0.428-0.429″. The revolver has also been refinished with full blue including on the originally casehardened frame. The revolver has a nice bore and good mechanics, so it should prove to be a good shooter. It would also make for a good restoration project. Please see our photos and good luck!
-Bud