The accompanying factory lists this revolver as shipped in a single gun shipment on January 20, 1891, to E.C. Meacham Arms Co. in St. Louis, Missouri, with the added note "For: Mr. Dufour/Lehigh Ind. Terr.," in .32-20 caliber, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, type of stocks not listed, and the letter further states, "Records do not indicate this firearm to be a Target model." Although not confirmed in the factory letter, this revolver has features of a target model, with a flattop frame and target sights. This exact revolver is featured on page 108 of Don Wilkerson's book "Colt's Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878" (published 1998), where it is noted as being out of the Charles Marx collection, and page 109 states, "On January 20, a revolver in .32-20 caliber with a 7 1/2" barrel was shipped to E.C. Meacham Arms for Mr. Dufour, Lehigh, Indian Territory. This revolver is included in my survey. The revolver is a flat-top target revolver with adjustable sights. It shows no signs of alteration and is assumed to be original. The factory ledgers make no mention of the target configuration. Lehigh, Indian Territory, was established in 1880 as a coal camp." The referenced Lehigh Indian Territory is located in Lehigh, Oklahoma. Only 970 Model 1878 revolvers in total were reportedly shipped in .32-20 WCF caliber, with 261 listed as shipped with a 7 1/2 inch barrel length and blue finish (likely a very small fraction of those being flattop target revolvers), according to figures on page 305 of Don Wilkerson's aforementioned book. Designed by William Mason, Colt's factory manager, and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards, Superintendent of Engineering, the Model 1878 revolver was intended to be a double action alternative to Colt's legendary Single Action Army revolver. The Model 1878 was not considered to be as popular as its single action cousin; however, there were still many that favored it in the West for its firepower, including Captain Jack Crawford, who replaced Buffalo Bill Cody as "Chief of Scouts" shortly after the Battle of Little Bighorn. The top of the barrel is marked with the one-line Hartford address, with "32 W.C.F." on the left of the barrel. A small "G" is marked on the left of the trigger guard. Full serial number marked on the butt, with an unnumbered cylinder, and assembly number "254" on the loading gate. It is fitted with a target blade front sight, dovetail mounted notch rear sight, a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops, and a lanyard swivel on the butt. Provenance: Dean Williams; The Charles Marx Collection