1195

Excellent Rare Colt London Agency Model 1878 Double Action Revolver in 476 Caliber

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Hand Guns - Revolvers Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,500.00 USD
Excellent Rare Colt London Agency Model 1878 Double Action Revolver in 476 Caliber
Buyer's Premium is 20.5% by credit card, reduced to 18% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.
Excellent Rare Colt London Agency Model 1878 Double Action Revolver in 476 Caliber

Also known as the Enfield Mark III Ball cartridge, the 476 was introduced in 1881 due to concerns regarding the Mark II .455 caliber round properly engaging the rifling of the Enfield revolver. Though phased out of British service in 1887, the Woolwich Arsenal continued Mark III cartridge production into the 1890s, and Dum-Dum Arsenal in India produced the cartridge into World War One. It is estimated that only 344 Model 1878 revolvers in this configuration were chambered in the 476 Enfield caliber. This particular revolver was manufactured in 1887. The top of the barrel is marked with the one line Hartford, Pall Mall address and the left side is marked "476-CAL.". London "crown/V" and "crown/GP" proofs are present on the underside of the barrel and alternating in each cylinder flute. The serial number is marked on the butt and the partial matching serial number "559" is marked on the rear face of the cylinder. The rear face of the cylinder is also marked "335" and "90" with a punch dot on the lower half of the "9". The loading gate number is unreadable. The circled Rampant Colt is on the lower left rear of the frame. Nickel finish with niter blue screws, trigger and hammer (polished sides) and fitted with checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt in an oval at the top and a lanyard ring on the butt. Don Wilkerson's book "Colt's Double Action Revolver Model of 1878" gives a production number of only 344 for this configuration.

Manufucture: Colt
Model: 1878
BBL: 5 1/2 inch round
Stock:
Guage: 476 CF
Finish: nickel
Grips: hard rubber
Serial Number: 26559

Excellent. The revolver retains 98% original nickel finish with some scattered tiny areas of flaking and some finish loss and minor pitting on the upper left front of the trigger guard. There is a small area of minor pitting on the cylinder. Overall there are some minor surface scratches. Most of the bright original niter blue finish remains on the hammer and much of the original bright niter blue remains on the trigger. The grips are also excellent with a few tiny dings on the lower high edges and crisp checkering. With the exception noted above, the markings are crisp and clear. The action is fine.