The Colt factory letter that states this revolver was delivered to the U.S. Government Inspector at the Hartford factory on March 8, 1887 as part of a lot of 450 revolvers. The revolver has the proper dull, military blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame and hammer have a casehardened finish and the one-piece walnut grip is oil finished. The revolver has the correct "bulls-eye" ejection rod head and hammer with elongated knurling on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the 'elongated block' letter address: "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." in one line. The underside of the barrel is stamped with a "P" proof mark followed by the Ordnance Sub-Inspector's initials "D.F.C.". The left side of the frame is stamped with the Colt 'three-dates in three-lines' patent markings and a "U.S." property mark. The "D.F.C." sub-inspector's initials are stamped on the frame ahead of the serial number on the side of the cylinder and on the left bottom of the grip heel. A "P" proof mark is stamped on the side of the cylinder. The full serial number is stamped on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The barrel and cylinder are stamped with the partial serial number "0993". All of the serial numbers match. The lower left side of the grip is stamped with the date of inspection "1887" over the script "J.G.B" initials of the Ordnance final inspector Capt. John G. Butler. The initials are bordered by an oval. Sub-inspector David F. Clark's script initials are stamped in a rectangle on the lower right side of the grip. The initials "JCE" are neatly scratched on the bottom of the left side of the grip and a rack number "15" is stamped on the bottom right side. The loading gates is stamped with the assembly number "997".

Fine. The revolver retains 70% of the original blue and 20% of the casehardened finish. The barrel has most of the original blue finish with some minor pitting at the muzzle and high point wear on the ejector housing. The trigger guard and back strap have 80% of the original blue finish with scattered surface rust. The cylinder has a blue-gray patina with light to moderate surface blemishes and minor pitting. The frame, hammer and loading gate have a gray-brown patina with the original case colors in protected areas. All of the markings are clear and distinct. The grip is in very good condition with moderate handling wear and legible Ordnance inspection marks. The action is crisp.