Manufactured in 1879 this revolver features engraving chiefly in the Gustave Young style of punch-dot backed scroll designs, covering the top and rear sides of the barrel, the cylinders around the flutes, and virtually the entire sides of the frame, along with a burst pattern on the recoil shield, checkerboard surrounded by scrolls on the trigger guard, stars around the firing pin catch, punch dot backed clovers on the top strap, unbacked scrollwork on the sides of the breech and rear of the frame, a floral design on top of the back strap knuckle and a panel suitable for inscriptions on the back strap. The sides of the frame warrant specific note, as the scrollwork is executed in a spiral pattern around the hammer screw, crossing the side plate seamlessly in multiple places. The accompanying factory letter states that this revolver was one of two shipped to J.P. Lower on December 6, 1879, and it confirms the 4 inch barrel length, caliber, finish and factory engraving. Rubber grips are listed, with the checkered ivory most likely added by the Colt factory. Operating in Denver, Colorado, John Lower is credited as the first distributor to order the 1878 in the ejectorless 4 inch barrel configuration, an order placed a mere 2 months before this revolver was shipped, making it one of the first of its kind. Dubbed the "Sport's Pet" by Lower, an 1878 of this style was seen as a symbol of high status and wealth among the gamblers and sporting types of Denver, presenting an ideal combination of compact firepower with fine aesthetic qualities. The top of the barrel is marked with the two line address, "45 CAL/ VP" on the upper left front side of the trigger guard and an "&" on the right side of the guard, indicating later factory work. Standard blade front and frame notch rear sights, nickel finish with niter blue hammer and trigger, and fitted with checkered grips. This specific revolver can be seen on page 39 of Don Wilkerson's book "Colt's Double Action Revolver Model of 1878," on pages 260 and 261 of Wilson & Hable's "Colt Pistols," and on pages 378 and 379 of Wilson and Lee's "Magnificent Colts Volume II."