This is a rare example of a U.S. Colt Walker Model percussion revolver that was manufactured in 1847 as part of a 1,000 pistol contact with the Ordnance Department to arm the U.S. Mounted Rifle Regiment. The Walker Model revolvers were designed by Samuel Colt with the assistance of Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker of the U.S. Mounted Rifle Regiment and were manufactured by Eli Whitney Jr. at the Whitneyville Armory. The original intent was to issue 152 revolvers to each of the seven companies of the Mounted Rifle Regiment with two revolvers for each trooper. Each revolver was marked with the company letter (A-G) and the revolvers were numbered in pairs (1-76 for Companies A-F and 1-44 for Company G which received 88 revolvers). The first Walker Model Revolvers were delivered to the Ordnance Department in September 1847 and arrived at the Ordnance Depot in Vera Cruz, Mexico, that same month. In October 1847, 394 A Company, B Company and C Company Walker Model revolvers were issued to the 1st Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers commanded by Col. John Coffee Hays. The Texas Mounted Volunteers were assigned to protect the lines of communication between the port of Vera Cruz and Mexico City and the Walker Model revolvers saw hard use in action against Mexican irregular forces. Only 191 Walker Model revolvers were turned in when Hays' regiment mustered out of service on May 8, 1848. One hundred Walker model revolvers with A and B Company markings were issued to Company C of the Mounted Rifle Regiment in November 1847. The Mounted Rifle Regiment retained these revolvers after the end of the Mexican War. The remaining 500 Walker Model revolvers were sent to the 8th Military Department in Texas and were subsequently issued to the 2nd Dragoon Regiment and Texas Rangers in Federal service in 1849 and 1850. Experts have identified approximately 200 surviving Walker Model revolvers with company markings; B Company No. 25 is one of the known surviving revolvers. This particular Walker revolver is accompanied by an extensive assortment of documentation and is a virtual who's who in the field of investment grade firearms dealing. The first piece of documentation is an ad from a Herb Glass Sr. (pictured at left) in The Texas Gun Collectors monthly magazine from December of 1955. Said revolver, B Company 25 is pictured with its original mate B Company 26. The second form of documentation is an official Texas Gun Collectors Association certificate from the Parade of Walkers issued to Greg Martin for display of "B Company No. 25" dated spring 2003. Next is a letter from Paul Sorrell which states "I have inspected this gun and find it to be correct and original except the lever catch. These were weak and often failed in use and caused the cylinder to jam. This was done in the days of use and is considered correct. Included in the letter is and extremely interesting and rock solid list of previous owners: 1951 Gerald Fox, 1952 'Quick List' Gerald Fox, 1953 Herb Glass, 1955 TGCA Magazine Herb Glass, 1957 Herb Green, 1999 Brian Bossier, 2001 Greg Martin, 2003 sold to the Gateway Collection. Finally the revolver is accompanied by a R.L. Wilson letter which further emphasizes this Walker as authentic. The massive Walker revolver has a part-round/part-octagon barrel, 2 17/16-inch six-shot cylinder with oval stops and a single locking pin. The loading lever is secured by a T-shaped spring just ahead of the barrel lug. The revolver has a square-back brass trigger guard and iron back strap. The one-piece, 'slim jim' walnut grips have a rounded front. The Walker Model revolvers had blued barrels and back straps, color casehardened loading levers, frames and hammers and bright finished cylinders. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "ADDRESS, SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY" reading from the breech to the bore. "US/1847" is stamped on the right side of the barrel lug above the wedge screw. "B COMPANY No. 25" is roll-stamped on the left side of the barrel lug above the wedge slot, on the right side of the frame and on the butt in large letters. "B COMY No 25" is stamped in smaller letters on the bottom of the trigger guard between the screw and the bow. All of the visible serial numbers match. The cylinder was roll-stamped with the Ranger and Indian fight scene and "MODEL U.S.M.R./COLT'S PATENT". Provenance: 1951 Gerald Fox, 1952 'Quick List' Gerald Fox, 1953 Herb Glass, 1955 TGCA Magazine Herb Glass, 1957 Herb Green, 1999 Brian Bossier, 2001 Greg Martin, Paul Sorrell, 2003 sold to the Gateway Collection.

Good. The revolver has a silver-gray patina with patches of age patina and retains all of the original components. There is moderate pitting on the round portion of the barrel and scattered light pitting on most of the other components. The tip of the loading lever was period modified to the navy catch which has been repaired as has the lever retention spring. The cylinder shows typical wear from hard use on the frontier but still exhibits strong traces of the original Indian and Ranger scene. There are old wrench marks on the rear of the cylinder and the percussion nipples have flash pitting. The brass trigger guard has never been polished and has a deep patina with patches of age discoloration. The walnut grip is in good overall condition but shows much handling wear under a coat of old protective varnish. The Colt legend on the barrel flat and the B Company markings on the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap are all clear. The action is crisp and fully functional. The Colt Walker Model revolver is the most historically significant and desirable Colt firearm. Virtually all of the 1000 U.S. Contract Walker Model revolvers saw action during the Mexican War or on the frontier in the decades before the Civil War. Few of the Colt Walker Model Revolvers are found in this well above average condition. This revolver would be the standout piece in any advanced collection of Colt firearms or U.S. martial arms. This is an authentic Walker!