U.S. Colt Walker Model 1847 revolver marked "A COMPANY No 194" and manufactured in 1847. This revolver is listed by serial number on page 79 of "THE COLT WHITNEYVILLE-WALKER PISTOL" by Robert D. Whittington III as one of the 150 surviving U.S. Colt Walker Models identified by Whittington in 1984. The Colt Walker Model revolver was designed in 1846 by Samuel Colt with suggestions from Captain Samuel H. Walker of the U.S. Mounted Rifle Regiment. This revolver was manufactured part of the contract for 1,000 Colt Walker Model revolvers signed by Secretary of War William L. Marcy on January 6, 1847. Samuel Colt had no manufacturing facility and he assigned the contract to Eli Whitney Jr. All of the U.S. contract Walker Model revolvers were manufactured at the Whitneyville Armory in Hamden, Connecticut. The U.S. Contract Walker Model revolvers were marked with A-E Company designations with the serial number beginning at "1" for each company. Revolvers for Companies A-D were numbered from 1-220. The 1st Regiment, Texas Mounted Volunteers received the initial issue of 214 C Company marked Walker Model revolvers at Vera Cruz, Mexico on October 19, 1847. Subsequently, an additional 280 A and B Company marked Walker Revolvers were issued to either the Texas Mounted Volunteers or the U.S. Mounted Rifles and saw service in the Mexican War. The remaining 500 Walker Model revolvers were issued to the 2nd Dragoon Regiment and federalized Texas Rangers on the Texas frontier between 1849-1850. Nearly all of the U.S. Contract Walker Model revolvers saw hard service in the field. This massive revolver has a half-round barrel with nickel-silver front sight blade. The loading lever has a rounded end and is held in position by a T-shaped spring mounted on the bottom of the barrel. The 2 7/16 inch six shot cylinder has oval cylinder stops. The trigger and cylinder stop screws do not pass completely through the right side of the frame. The frame has cut-outs at the back that match the forward contour of the one-piece black walnut "Slim Jim" grips. The brass square back trigger guard has a distinctive flared bottom. The top of the barrel is roll stamped "ADDRESS. SAML COLT. NEW-YORK CITY" reading from the breech to the muzzle. "US/1847" is roll-stamped on the right side of the barrel lug above the wedge screw. "A COMPANY No. 194" is roll stamped in large letters on the left side of the barrel lug above the wedge slot., on the left side of the frame and on the bottom of the back strap. "A COMy No 194" is stamped in smaller letters in front of the trigger guard. The serial number "194" is stamped on the face of the barrel lug between the frame locating pins and on the bottom of the cylinder arbor pin. All of the visible serial numbers match. The cylinder has been refinished and has no visible markings or cylinder scene. The cylinder has been period modified with six locking pins. The rear of the back strap bottom has been notched for a shoulder stock yoke. The oil-finished walnut, 'slim jim', grip is nicely figured and has no visible Ordnance final or sub-inspection marks. A round plug is fitted in the lower left grip heel. This revolver was displayed at the Texas Gun Collectors "Parade of Walkers" in 2003 and was pictured on Page 28 of the Fall 2003 issue of "THE TEXAS GUN COLLECTOR". This revolver was formerly part of the famous Harold's Club collection and was displayed with a mid-20th Century photo of Charles Parker, noted collector, holding this pistol vertically upward with an engraved Paterson!