Rare Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Flattop Target .32 S&W Revolver with Holster and Factory Letter

Offered here is a true rarity in Colt collecting: one of only six nickel finished, 5 1/2 inch barrel, black powder Colt Single Action Army Flattop Target Revolvers manufactured in .32 S&W. As documented in The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895 by Wilkerson and Hoyt (page 402), these six revolvers—variously noted in records as chambered in .32 S&W Target, .32 S&W Gallery, or .32-44—were all part of the same shipment to E.C. Meacham Arms Co. of St. Louis on December 8, 1888. The authors speculated that the entire order was likely for a single customer, “most likely a shooting gallery in St. Louis” (page 203). The accompanying factory letter confirms the revolver’s configuration and its inclusion in this historic shipment, though stock type was not listed.

According to the consignor, this revolver was verified by Tom Haas Jr. as having been beautifully restored in the 1970s by Tom Haas Sr. and Horacio Acevedo. It is fitted with target sights, with the barrel marked on top with the one-line Hartford address, the frame on the left with the three-line patent dates, and the trigger guard with “32 CAL” on the left side. Matching serial numbers are present on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The revolver is fitted with checkered hard rubber grips featuring the Rampant Colt and American Eagle motifs.

Accompanying the revolver is a period floral-tooled Fred Biffar leather open-top holster and a full box of Winchester .32-44 Gallery cartridges with an original red label, making this an exceptional and complete display-worthy package.