Colt Single Action Army revolver with "Bridgeport Rig" hammer screw and cartridge belt. The revolver is accompanied by a Colt factory letter that states it was shipped to the Simmons Hardware Co., in St. Louis, Missouri on August 20, 1894. The letter describes the revolver as caliber "44/40" with 5 1/2 inch barrel and "Blue" finish. The revolver is fitted with the special elongated hammer screw with oversize button head. The lightweight russet leather cartridge belt has the "Flatau Device" which consists of a two-prong slotted spring steel clip riveted to an arched rectangular backplate. The backplate is attached to the belt by four copper rivets. The spring clips are stamped "Bridgeport G.I. CO." and "PAT'D JAN 17. 1882". The spring clips are designed to engage the special hammer screw and attach the revolver to the belt. The revolver can either be quickly disengaged from the clips or swiveled and fired while attached to the belt. Patented by Louis S. Flatau of Pittsburg, Texas, in 1882 and manufactured by the Bridgeport Gun Implement Co., of Bridgeport, Connecticut, 500 units were manufactured for Army trials. A smaller number of "Bridgeport Rigs" were manufactured for the civilian market. Surviving examples of Bridgeport Rigs are rare. This example is accompanied by a type-written letter signed by George R. Locke of Colorado that states the rig was purchased by his father around 1895. The letter states that his father was a cowboy, businessman and Deputy Marshall of Trinidad, Colorado, and that he remembered his father showing the gun to ranchers and cowboys. The revolver has a Colt commercial blue barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame and hammer are casehardened and the replacement hammer screw is nickel-plated. The revolver has two-piece, black checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt trademark in an oval at the top. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD Ct. U.S.A." in one line. "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" is roll-stamped on the left side of the barrel. The underside of the barrel is stamped with the caliber designation "44" and a "V" inspection mark. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three-date/two-line" patent markings followed by the circled Rampant Colt trademark. The inside of the loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "871". A "V" inspection mark is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder and "O" is stamped in the hammer slot. The full serial number, "157985" is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. The cartridge belt has a rectangular nickel-plated buckle, thirty sewn cartridge loops and stamped decorated.

Very fine. The revolver retains 75% of the original blue finish overall. There is light-moderate edge wear on the muzzle, left side of the barrel and ejector housing. The finish on the cylinder and back strap is thin and the blue finish on the grip strap has aged to a silver gray. The frame and hammer retain 60% of the original casehardened finish with strong case colors. The loading gate has a silver-gray patina. The grips have faded but remain very fine. All of the markings are crisp. The action functions well. The cartridge belt is good with moderate handling wear. The Flatau Device is very good and retains about 80% of the nickel-plated finish. The markings are faint. This is an exceptional example of a Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action revolver with very rare Bridgeport Rig.