This is an outstanding example of a Colt "New Service" revolver with the rare nickel plated finish and very rare carved ivory "steer head" grips. This pistol is accompanied with a Colt factory letter dated Oct 2007, verifying the finish and identifying this as a "1" gun shipment to Wyeth Hardware & Mfg. Company St. Joseph Missouri in June 1924. The letter states ivory, but not the steerhead. At that time this was the best service revolver being offered by the Colt factory. It is chambered in the 45 LC cartridge a very powerful cartridge at this time. It specifically lists this revolver as being nickel plated and fitted with the Ivory grips. The top of the barrel has the two-line Colt address and patent dates with the last one ending in 1905. The right side of the barrel is marked "COLT NEW SERVICE 45 COLT". The inside the of the frame and back side of the crane are numbered "319048". The left side plate on the frame is marked with the smaller Colt Rampant Horse trademark, with the Colt factory "VP" inside a small triangle on the left front trigger guard bow. The butt is unmarked and has a plug inside the lanyard loop hole which was specifically required/verified in the factory letter. As noted it has a beautiful set of carved ivory grips with the large carved "Steer Head" on the right grip panel, with simulated "Red Ruby Eyes" on the steer. The lower left grip has the initials "L.L.H." carved into them.

Excellent with 97% of the original nickel plated finish still remaining overall with just some very minor pin-prick flaking of the nickel finish in a few places on the edges of high spots of the revolver such as the muzzle area, the front edge of he cylinder etc, with some minor oxidation of the finish with a very slightly cylinder drag line (has not broken through the nickel plated finish) on the sides of the cylinder. There is a small ding/dent present on the underside of the muzzle. The grips are also in very fine condition with an excellent original aged yellow appearance overall with some minor age cracking on the butt of the grips that follow the grain of the ivory . The replacement grip is excellent with a nice darkened color in the carved areas that make the steer head really stand out very nice, with the ruby eyes still intact. Mechanically fine. An attractive high condition Colt factory special order New Service revolver, with factory letter.