This Colt revolver was manufactured in 1909. It is accompanied by a Colt factory letter that indicates it was sold to the Maxwell Supply Company and shipped to the Charles Ilfeld Company in Albuquerque and Las Vegas, New Mexico Territory, on July 6, 1909. The Colt Single Action Army revolvers in this serial number range manufactured between 1900 and 1912 were the last Single Actions to be used in the "Frontier" West. New Mexico Territory was still the "Wild West" in 1909 and this revolver almost certainly played a role in the closing years of the American frontier. Charles Ilfeld was a Jewish German immigrant who arrived in the Southwest in 1865. He and his family rose to be among the elite in Las Vegas. Ilfeld was a leading territorial merchant, sheep rancher and land owner and was beloved for his active role in the region. He was even called "Tio Carlos" by many in the local Hispanic community. His nephew Ludwig Ilfeld worked for the his uncle's company until he struck out on his own and was a well known outdoorsman and horseman. These passions led him to establish a close friendship with Theodore Roosevelt. When Roosevelt came to Las Vegas to attend the 1899 Rough Riders Reunion Ludwig loaned him his horse "Maude" to ride in the parade. Ludwig was later invited to Roosevelt's 1904 presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. along with the 1909 inauguration of President-elect Taft as an honored guest. He also had a small role in a Tom Mix Western filmed near Las Vegas and was a colonel in the New Mexico National Guard. Many of Roosevelt's Rough Riders came from the New Mexico Territory and they held their annual reunions in Las Vegas, New Mexico, from 1899 to 1967. The revolver has the standard blue and color casehardened finish and is fitted with factory pearl grips. The Colt letter lists the revolver features as: "Caliber: .44/40, Barrel Length: 7 1/2", Finish: Blue", and "Type of Stocks: Pearl". The left side of the barrel is stamped with the very desirable "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" marking. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped; "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." in a single line. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt two line, three date patent markings followed by the encircled Rampant Colt trademark. The loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "139". The left front trigger guard bow is stamped with the Colt triangle VP proof mark, and the assembler's mark "6" is stamped on the left rear trigger guard bow. The full serial number "3405838" is located on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. The hammer spur has the borderless knurling. Accompanying this lot is a hard cover copy of "The Charles Ilfeld Company: A Study of the Rise and Decline of Mercantile Capitalism in New Mexico" by William J. Parish. This book describes the changing structure of business enterprise in New Mexico from the days of the Santa Fe Trail to present times and the dominant role that the Charles Ilfeld Company played in that transformation. As confirmed by the Colt factory letter, this is the same company that this revolver was shipped to in 1909.

Very good as partially refinished (cylinder). The revolver retains at least 60% of the original Colt commercial blue finish and color casehardened finish. The barrel has most of the Colt commercial blue finish intact with some thinning on the left side and holster wear at the muzzle. The high points of the ejector housing show holster wear. Most of the blue finish is present on protected areas of the trigger guard while the contact points on the trigger guard, grip-strap and back strap have faded to a smooth silver gray patina. The cylinder has been re-finished and shows fine pitting on the rear face and one chamber. The hammer and protected areas of the frame retain about 60% of the faded case colors. The loading gate has a silver-gray patina and shows some very light pitting. Significant amounts on niter blue finish remain on the frame, trigger guard and grip screws. The serial numbers, barrel legend, caliber designation and frame markings are crisp. The pearl grips are in good overall condition. The grips have yellowed slightly from age and there is a repaired crack in the left grip and a hairline crack in the right grip. There is a chip in the right grip at the junction with the frame and smaller chips on the bottom edges of both grips. The lower left side of the barrel has been deliberately marked with four parallel scratches just ahead of the cylinder pin. The action is tight and functions perfectly. This is an example of a turn of the century Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action with scarce New Mexico associations.