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Colt Bisley S/A .45 Stembridge Hollywood Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:2,400.00 - 3,400.00 USD
Colt Bisley S/A .45 Stembridge Hollywood Revolver
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This lot offers you a Colt Bisley Single Action .45 Colt caliber, 4 ¾” barrel revolver with floral carved holster once owned by Stembridge Gun Rentals of Hollywood, California! This fine all matching serial numbered Bisley was made in 1902 and is identified by Stembridge’s “S” owner’s marking stamped next to the frame serial number 245877. Stembridge was founded in 1920 by James Stembridge and Cecil B. DeMille to supply guns to the movie industry. The company went out of business in the 1990s. At this time their extensive collection of firearms was liquidated. Most of these famed Hollywood movie guns have found homes in museums and private collections, making examples extremely hard to acquire. One can only wonder the great western movies in which this Bisley played a part and what Hollywood stars might have handled it during filming! Being an unusual and early Colt, it is likely that this was one of the original 1920 Stembridge acquisitions. During this early time in film, westerns were one of the most popular and profitable motion picture genres. The Colt Bisley Model was named for the famed Bisley Shooting Range in England and was an attempt by Colt to offer the Single Action Army revolver shooter an informal target single action option. With its lower hammer, curved trigger and sloping grip frame, the Bisley model found favor with those who preferred a different style and feel in their Colt Single Action revolver. The Bisley Model seemed to be especially popular in the Southwestern U.S. Considerably more scarce on the collector market today, the total number of Single Action Army revolvers manufactured by Colt reached over 357,000 before the start of World War II. Of this number only 44,350 were in the Bisley configuration. The most popular calibers in the Bisley were the .32-20 and .38-40. Only a total of 8,005 Bisleys in all three standard barrel lengths combined (4 ¾”, 5 ½” & 7 ½”) were made in the most desirable caliber of .45 Colt. This Colt Bisley has all matching serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. It also retains excellent original Colt markings including the two-line barrel address used only on 4 ¾” revolvers (all longer lengths had a one line address). The left side of the barrel is also correctly marked “(BISLEY MODEL) .45 COLT” and the left side of the frame retains the two lines of patent dates plus the rampant colt logo. Most of the metal surfaces are now a gray patina from years of handling and holster wear. There is some fine blue retained in the most protected areas around the ejector housing. There is also considerable edge wear to the left side of the muzzle showing that this revolver was drawn and holstered as well as carried a great deal! One can only wonder at the number of hard-riding western films this Colt must have been in to cause this kind of honest holster wear! Front sight has not been altered and the correct, original Colt hard rubber grips show wear but are sound. All screws are excellent and the action works correctly. The bore is also excellent. The beautifully floral carved black holster is embossed on the reverse side “COLORADO SADDLERY” over “DENVER” and fits any 4 ¾” barrel Single Action or Bisley revolver perfectly. Apparently this holster came from Stembridge Gun Rentals with this Bisley. The holster is in excellent overall condition. Not only a fine Colt collectable, but unquestionably a wonderful piece of Hollywood western movie memorabilia! The revolver qualifies as a Curio & Relic Handgun, and requires FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check. Serial Number: 245877