Make: Colt

Model: Custom Single Action Army, Bisley Model

Serial Number: 310356

Year of Manufacture: 1909

Caliber: .38-40 WCF

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

Barrel Length: 5 1/2”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade, it is not original to the gun. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece sheep horn, contoured to the grip frame's new shape. The grips show some discoloration and light handling wear. The right panel has a cluster of nicks at the top-front. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Refinished. The trigger guard assembly and trigger are not original to the gun. The backstrap and hammer have been modified. Some other modifications may have been made.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion, infrequent pitting, and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 75% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is handling wear in the grip areas and holster wear on the left of the barrel, the ejector housing, and the leading edges of the cylinder. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. A portion of the barrel around the front sight has a plum hue to the finish. There is some erosion under the finish on the trigger guard assembly. There are some tool marks on the sides of the barrel, under the finish. 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 about Very Good condition as customized.

Mechanics: The first "click" of the hammer functions as half-cock, there is no safety notch. The included article speculates that this was to accommodate the standard trigger guard assembly installed on the Bisley frame. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a brown leather holster and a photocopy of an article by Bob Edwards titled "A Curious Colt" from the March/April 2003 edition of "The Shootist" magazine (published by NCOWS).

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 and were serial-numbered in the same sequence as the Single Action Army.

This is a fairly radically customized example of a 1st Generation Bisley, chambered for .38-40 Winchester with a 5 1/2" barrel. The hammer spur has the same profile, but its "ears" have been cut down making it more slim. Most notably, the backstrap has been re-profiled, having a distinctive hump. The bending of the backstrap appears to have been performed through heat, but the bottom portion has been cut and welded back in place, likely to accommodate the plain Single Action Army trigger guard assembly that has also been installed. Along with this, the trigger is also a standard SAA part.

A conversion such as this is no trivial matter, and would require a skilled smith. The included article from "The Shootist" speculates that the work may have been performed by J.D. Omera of South Dakota. The result is a revolver with a unique appearance, set off nicely by a set of sheep horn grips. Please see our photos and good luck!