Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a developmental dead end that helped create one of Colt’s most famous target revolvers. This is a Colt London Single Action Army Flattop Target in .450 Boxer with factory extended grips and Metford rifling – basically a Bisley prototype before the Bisley existed.
The extended checkered walnut grips are the star of the show here. Only a handful of Flattop Target revolvers are known with these factory long grips, which directly led to the design of the Bisley Target model introduced in 1894. Colt was clearly experimenting with grip configurations for serious target work, and this 1889 shipment to their London agency represents that testing phase.
The Metford rifling is the technical highlight. This shallow-groove polygonal rifling system was designed specifically for black powder ammunition to reduce fouling – crucial for target shooters firing long strings without cleaning. The eight-groove Metford system was cutting-edge technology in the 1880s, mostly seen on British military rifles.
What makes this piece historically significant is how it represents Colt’s response to the growing precision shooting market. The factory extended grips, specialized rifling, and British chambering show Colt was willing to experiment with low-volume modifications for serious target shooters. Five years later, these experiments would evolve into the famous Bisley line. This revolver is essentially a one-off prototype that helped shape the future of American target revolvers.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“Elongated Grips Metford Rifled Colt Single Action Army Revolver.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4095/139/elongated-grips-metford-rifled-colt-single-action-army-revolver. Accessed 12 Aug. 2025.
The post POTD: Colt London Flattop Target – The Prototype that Became Bisley appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.
