Colt Single Action Army revolver with Colt factory letter and acquisition history from previous owner. The Colt factory letter describes the revolver features as: "Caliber: .38/40, Barrel Length: 5 1/2" and "Finish: Nickel". The letter states that this revolver was shipped to the Simmons Hardware Company in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 23, 1901. The Simmons Hardware Company was the largest distributor of Colt Single Action Army revolvers west of the Mississippi and one of the largest hardware stores in the world. Between 1879 and 1895, Simmons Hardware took delivery of 19,532 Single Action Army revolvers. Included with the revolver is a 1996 dated letter that states the gun was purchased from noted Texas dealer "Red" Jackson of Jackson Arms in the early 1970s and eventually sold to Tommy Rholes of Van, Texas, in 1996. The revolver has a full nickel-plated finish with fire blue screws and two-piece hard rubber checkered grips. The grips are embossed with the Rampant Colt trademark in an oval. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line legend: "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co./HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." The "C" in Colt's and the "H" in Hartford are very lightly stamped and nearly invisible under the nickel-plating. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped with the caliber designation "38 W.C.F." "41" is stamped on the underside of the barrel next to the frame. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt "Three-Date/Two-Line" patent markings followed by the encircled Rampant Colt trademark. The assembly number "151" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The full serial number "218072" is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "8072" is written in pencil on the inside of each grip. All of the visible serial numbers match.

Fine. The revolver is all original and retains 50% plus of the original nickel-plated finish. The finish is thin on the barrel, ejector housing and right side of the frame. There is moderate flaking on the cylinder, hammer, back strap and trigger guard. The markings and serial numbers are mostly sharp. The grips are also in fine condition with minor wear. There is a small chip in the heel of the left grip. The action is crisp, but the hammer will not hold at half-cock. This is a fine example of an original Colt Single Action Army revolver manufactured in 1901.