Colt Walker Model revolver manufactured in 1847 by the Whitneyville Armory. This revolver is marked "C COMPANY No. 172" on the left side of the barrel lug, left side of the frame, bottom of the trigger guard and butt. It is one of 220 C Company marked Walker Model revolvers and was originally intended for issue to the U.S. Mounted Rifle Regiment. The C Company revolvers were shipped to the U.S. Army Depot at Vera Cruz, Mexico, in September 1847. On October 19, 1847, 214 C Company marked Walker Colt revolvers were issued to the First Regiment Texas Mounted Volunteers commanded by Colonel John Coffee Hays. Known as "The Texas Devils" the Texas Mounted Volunteers used their Walker Colt revolvers in a number of actions against Mexican irregular forces operating between Mexico City and Vera Cruz. Of the 394 Walker revolvers issued to the Texas Mounted Volunteers only 191 revolvers (of which 82 were serviceable) were turned in at the Vera Cruz Depot when the regiment was mustered out of federal service on May 8, 1848. The serviceable revolvers were sent to the Baton Rouge Arsenal where they were subsequently issued to Texas Rangers and the 2nd Dragoon Regiment. All of the C Company Walker revolvers saw hard service in Mexico and on the Texas frontier. This revolver is one of the 38 surviving C Company Walker revolvers listed on page 80 of "THE COLT WHITNEYVILLE WALKER PISTOL" by LTC Robert Whittington. In addition to the C Company marking on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap, the right side of the barrel lug is stamped: "U.S./1847" in two lines above the wedge slot. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY" reading from the breech to the muzzle. "172" is stamped on the front of the frame between the barrel lug pins (this makes this the 172nd Walker produced as the C Company Revolvers were the first produced). The massive, 2 7/16 inch cylinder has oval stops and a single safety pin. The frame has the distinctive cut-outs at the back for the forward contour of the grip. The brass, square back trigger guard has a broad bottom and the trigger slot is curved at the front and square at the back. The half-round/half-octagon barrel has the T-shaped spring to secure the loading lever. The revolver has one-piece, walnut "Slim-Jim" grips.