According to the included Colt Industries letter, this Frontier Six Shooter was shipped to Montgomery Ward & Co. in Chicago, Illinois, on August 5th, 1890, in a shipment of five guns of this type. The letter confirms that it shipped with this barrel length and a "blue" finish (blue/casehardened) chambered for .44-40 W.C.F. cartridges. In the 1890s, Montgomery Ward & Co. was the dominant mail order company in the country. In 1896, Richard Warren Sears launched his first mail order and a struggle between Sears and Montgomery Ward for dominance continued well into the 20th century. Colt revolvers were among the many firearms and sporting goods advertised in their catalogs. The 1895 Montgomery Ward & Co. catalog listed this model for just $12.00 and the "Special Target" (Flat Top Target SAA) for $15.75. The revolver has a 7 1/2 inch round barrel marked with the one-line address on top and "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" on the left. The frame has the three-line/three-date patent information on the left. It has a pair of Rampant Colt/Federal Eagle grips and has matching serial numbers.

Fair. The revolver has been cleaned and is now a mostly even gray patina with some light pitting. The front sight has been replaced. The replacement grips are fine with mostly crisp checkering and varied aged tones. The action is fine, and the markings are crisp.