historicalfirearms:Colt BisleyBy the 1890s target pistol shooting was becoming an increasingly popul
historicalfirearms:Colt BisleyBy the 1890s target pistol shooting was becoming an increasingly popular sport both in North America and in Europe. In Britain, the British National Rifle Association’s annual meetings and prestigious rifle and pistol competitions were world renowned amongst marksmen. In response to this rise in popularity Colt introduced a dedicated target version of their Single Action Army revolver. Introduced in 1894, Colt offered the Bisley in 4¾-, 5½- and 7½-inch barrel lengths but the primary distinguishing features of the Bisley were its wider, lower spurred hammer and its distinctive curved grip frame and swept-under grip, which was intended the pistol to sit better in the hand and allow it to point straighter.The standard Bisley’s sights retained the Single Action Army’s grooved top strap sighting channel but a special flat-top model with a windage adjustable rear sight and an elevation adjustable front sight was offered (see images #1 ). Just 976 of these were made. 4¾ inch barrel Bisley, the shortest version of the revolver (source)While the pistol retains the Single Action Army’s basic design it has a longer mainspring housed inside the grip frame and its hammer is also slightly longer. Colt offered the Bisley in a large variety of calibres including British and American cartridges ranging from Winchester rounds like .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40, to .41 and .45 Colt, and large bore British cartridges like .450 Eley and .455 Eley. The pistol’s namesake, Bisley in Surrey, became the permanent home of the British NRA, its ranges and its shooting meetings (including the famous Imperial Meeting) in 1890. Originally established in 1860 on Wimbolden Common, in London, it moved in 1890 due to increasing urbanisation of the Common. For Colt to choose to name their target pistol ‘the Bisley’ shows how world renowned the meetings at Bisley had become in just four years. Postcard showing the Whitehead pistol competition at Bisley, c.1914 (source)Incidentally, in 1894, two new Challenge Cups for revolvers introduced at Bisley. An Inter-Service Competition, established by Henry Whitehead, that had a course of fire of 12 rounds at 20 yards followed by 12 rounds at 50 yards - with 2 minutes for each series of six shots. A second competition for teams from Volunteer Battalions was also started. Set up by Colonel Bargrave Dean, this competition had a course of fire of 12 rounds at a distance 20 yards, 30 seconds allotted for each series of six rounds.Colt produced the Bisley from 1894 until 1915, with 45,326 built in total. The Bisley proved to be a popular model, while very few of the 45,326 manufactured were the dedicated target model they proved to be a successful, well liked civilian carry pistol. Sources:Images: 1 2 3 4The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Handguns, A.B. Zhuk (1995)Colt Single Action Army, M. Pegler, (2017)Colt Bisley Revolver, American Rifleman, R. Hacker (source)My thanks to David Minshall, of Research Press, for the additional information about the Bisley pistol competitions and the use of the wonderful postcard above. If you enjoy the content please consider supporting Historical Firearms through Patreon! -- source link