Colt Bisley Model 1st Generation .44 Russian, 4.75-inch, King Target Sights, 1902, Blue/Casehardened — With Colt Archive Letter
This 1902 Colt Bisley Model, 1st Generation, stands out for its less common .44 Russian chambering and documented history. A Colt Archive letter confirms shipment to The Hartley Company, New York, on July 21, 1902. Custom features include King target sights, a 4.75-inch replacement barrel that retains the original chambering, and smooth non-factory grips. Matching serial numbers are observed on the frame, trigger guard, and backstrap, with blue and color casehardened finishes consistent with the era.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The barrel has been replaced with a 4.75-inch barrel while retaining the original .44 Russian chambering. Light scratches and blemishes are present, and localized pitting deposits can be seen. Slight blemishes are visible in the bore, with rifling remaining well defined.
What's Included
- Wood display/presentation case
- Colt Archive letter (factory letter), dated July 1, 2026
Built within the Colt Single Action Army family, this Bisley Model is a First-Generation revolver produced during the 1894–1915 era, with this example dated to 1902. The archive letter documents shipment to The Hartley Company in New York and notes factory configuration as blue finish with hard rubber stocks. Current markings include the barrel legend "(BISLEY-MODEL) .44 RUSSIAN CTG." and frame patent dates with the Rampant Colt in a circle.
Chambered in .44 Russian, a less common selection for the Bisley, this revolver retains matching serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. Its configuration includes a six-shot fluted cylinder, right-side ejector housing with a round, bullseye-style ejector rod head (domed face with concentric ridges), Bisley grip frame with a more vertical profile and enlarged trigger guard, and the distinctive Bisley hammer spur.
Custom work centers on King target sights: an adjustable rear target sight installed into the topstrap and a KING-marked ramp front sight with a pinned bead. The barrel has been replaced with a 4.75-inch steel barrel while preserving the original .44 Russian chambering. Smooth, light-colored replacement grips are installed in place of the factory hard rubber stocks.
Finishes are blue and color casehardened, with a blued cylinder and color casehardened frame. The included wood display/presentation case is present; one side panel is no longer attached.