Colt M1878 DA Revolver with Pall Mall barrel address and one-of-a-kind hammerless action. In THE BOOK OF COLT FIREARMS, R.L. Wilson states that less than a half dozen M1878 DA Revolvers were manufactured with the hammer spurs removed for police use. A hammerless Colt DA Revolver from the Colt museum is illustrated on page 330 of THE BOOK OF COLT FIREARMS. This revolver has a factory fitted cover over the hammer and is distinctly different from the revolver pictured in THE BOOK OF COLT FIREARMS. This particular revolver is pictured on page 337 in Wilkerson's book, "Colt's Double-Action Revolver Model of 1878". The revolver has the high polish Colt commercial blue finish with niter blue trigger and case hardened lanyard loop. The walnut, bird's head grips are finely checkered with a varnished finish. The serial number, "4", is centered on the bottom of the grip in front of the lanyard loop. An assembly number "41" is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder and penciled on the inside of both grips. The numeral "1" and the letter "L" are also stamped on the rear cylinder face. The top of the barrel is marked: "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. DEPOT 14. PALL MALL LONDON" in one line. This revolver appears to be a very early and possibly unique Colt experimental hammerless M1878 DA Revolver. From the Renaud de Kerchove d' Ousselghem collection.

Excellent. The revolver retains approximately 90-95% of the original high polish Colt blue finish. There is some old flaking on the edges and sides of the cylinder. The underside of the trigger guard and upper right side of the ejector housing have slightly browned. The balance of the surfaces have a gray-brown patina. Nearly all of the blue finish is present on the revolver frame and barrel; wear is limited to some minor flaking on the upper edges of the hammer slot and the barrel muzzle. The trigger and lanyard loop retain 95% of the niter blue and casehardened finish. The checkered walnut grips are in excellent condition; most of the original varnish finish is intact and wear is limited to some scattered and very minor flattening on the checkered surfaces. Markings are sharp. The action is crisp and functional but does not lock up when idle. This is an outstanding example of a unique M1878 hammerless DA Revolver. If one is to claim the title of owning the finest Colt Model 1878 DA collection, they need this example.