Cased colt 1878 double action, cal 476 FIRST PRODUCED BEST OF BEST

Cased colt 1878 double action, cal 476 FIRST PRODUCED. UNFIRED

Serialnumber 9335, produced in 1882.    The caliber 476 was first produced in 1884, and this gun was produced in 1882, 2 years prior. 

The revolver is 100 % correct, unfired, english proofmarked and has the special order high polish blue piano wire finish, indicating this was a special order. 

Only 1682 ,476  Enfield wer made in blue and this length. And it will letter as a ,476. 

The cylinder, which has an assemblynumber is the one born on this gun and has the same  special order finish.   In the book COLT MODEL 1878 DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVERS by don wilkerson, on page 364 it is stated that  Mr van Oppen ordered 12 single  action model 1873 and 12 double actions revolvers in ,476 - order dated June 15, 1889. ( all had the special finish since the previous orders arrived in england showing rust) . And he requested a .460 bore for treh ,476 calibers. 

This is one of that shipment.  Colt was known to pull unsold guns out of inventory and adapt them to the orders that came in.  This revolver was one of these, with a very low serialnumber .  The first shipment of .476 calibers was shipped to the London agency on June 26, 1884, and were in the 13000 range and were nickled. 

This one precedes that shipment with 2 years, but was shipped in 1889.  It has on all flutes the correct Birmingham proofmarks, seen on the OUTSIDE, the ealry ones had it on the back of the cylinder, and this is correct , since shipped in 1889.  

The triggerguard is showing the correct caliber, beeing ,476.   Barrel has the double Hartford and  LONDON adress,. Grips are of the small size, right one is missing a sliver where the retaining pin is situated, this is due to putting too much pressure  on the retaining screw. 

as said, the revolver is unfired, perfect bore and markings.  The barrel has 99,9 % of the deep original speical order high polish blue, frame 98 and cylinder 92 to 94. all missing blue is gone due to flaking.  But as close to mint as you can  find one of these rare revolvers. 

The case is original and is the typical English dealer case, label of charles Lancaster ( yes , of the Lancaster guns)  It is known that Mr. van Oppen (  the Europeen salesmalanger for Colt) had Mr. charles Lancaster booked as a customer and probably sold him this gun, which was then fitted in it's case. 

Typical English oak case, with an brass inlay at the top, Outstanding condition, just the top right corner is missing a sliver.  The cases inside is in perfect condition, with a perfect label and a cleaningrod. 

Overall this is a revolver that is impossible to replace and comes with a great historical development and is truly the lowest number known for this caliber  BEST OF BEST