The two included factory letters (dated 1985 and 2012) confirm that this revolver was part of a 5-gun shipment to Simmons Hardware Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, with a 4 3/4 inch .44-40 caliber barrel and nickel finish, the type of stock not listed. The barrel has the two-line address on top and "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER 44-40" stamped on the left side. The two-line, three-patent date marking and a circled Rampant Colt are on the left side of the frame. Matching numbers on frame and grip straps. Fitted with Rampant Colt embossed checkered grips. The hammer screw is a special screw with over-sized button head. The revolver is accompanied by a light weight russet leather small loop cartridge belt with the Flatau device which consists of a two-prong spring steel clip riveted to an arched rectangular back plate. The back plate is attached to the belt by four rivets. The spring clips engages the revolver hammer screw and attach the revolver to the belt. The revolver can be quickly disengaged from the clip or swiveled and fired from the belt. The spring clip is stamped "BRIDGEPORT G.I. CO" and PAT'D JAN 17. 1882." The belt tongue is marked "38" above "2 1/2 Royal 18." The rig was patented by Louis S. Flatau of Pittsburg, Texas, in 1882 and manufactured by the Bridgeport Gun Implement Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Approximately 500 units were manufactured for U.S. Army trial issue and were attached to Model 1874 saber belts at the Rock Island Arsenal. These devices were issued to infantry and cavalry units in the Southwest for troop trials in 1883. The Army determined that the "Flatau Pistol and Carbine Holder" was not suitable for issue and sold the remaining devices as surplus. A smaller number of the Bridgeport rigs were manufactured for the civilian market where it enjoyed limited success among those on the Western frontier. Surviving examples of Bridgeport rigs are rare.