The letter describes "Colt Model 1872 Open Top revolver, serial #3700" as" Caliber .44 rim fire, Barrel length Not listed, Finish Blue - Trigger guard and backs strap plated., Type of stocks Walnut, Shipped to J.P. Lower Company, Address Denver, Colorado, Date of shipment May 25, 1875" and "Number of same type of guns in this shipment 10". This revolver was formerly part of the famous Robert M. Lee collection of Colt firearms and is extensively illustrated and described on pages 292 and 293 of "Magnificent Colts, Volume II" by Robert M. Lee and R.L. Wilson. Colt manufactured approximately 7000 Model 1872 Open Top Revolvers c. 1872-1873. The Model 1872 revolver was the direct predecessor to the Colt Single Action Army. This revolver has the standard Model 1860 Army size grips and loading gate with external spring. The barrel has a nickel silver front sight blade with integral rear sight at the breech. The ejector rod head has circular knurling on the face. The hammer has bordered knurling on the spur and rimfire firing pin on the left side. The barrel is roll-stamped with standard legend: "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA.-" found on all but late production Model 1872 revolvers. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped: "- PAT. JULY, 25, 1871,- / - PAT. JULY. 2. 1872.-" in two lines. The cylinder is roll-stamped with the Texas Navy battle scene and " COLTS PATENT NO." The full serial number is located on the bottom of the barrel lug, trigger guard and back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. The rear face of the loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "246". The barrel, ejector rod housing, cylinder and steel back strap have the Colt high polish commercial blue finish. The frame, hammer and loading gate are casehardened. The barrel wedge, frame screws, firing pin and trigger are fire blue. The brass trigger guard is silver-plated. The one-piece walnut grip has a varnished piano finish.

Exceptionally fine. This revolver is all original and in truly outstanding condition! The barrel retains 85% plus bright original high polish blue with some finish loss at the muzzle with some thinning on the left side. The blue on the leading edge of the ejector housing is thin and shows some light holster wear. The cylinder retains all of the Texas Navy scene and about half of the original blue finish. The back strap has a dove-gray patina with traces of blue in protected areas. The frame and hammer have 90% plus of the original casehardened finish with vivid case colors. The case colors on the loading gate have faded to a dove-gray patina. The rimfire firing pin on the hammer retains nearly all of the fire blue finish. Significant amounts of fire blue remain on the wedge, barrel and frame screws and trigger. The brass trigger guard has an attractive, untouched patina with traces of silver plating in protected areas. The grip is in excellent condition and retains at least 95% of the original piano finish. Wear is limited to some minor handling marks, some finish loss on high points and a small chip on the lower left side of the grip at the junction of the trigger guard and back strap. This scarce Model 1872 Open Top revolver is one of the finest examples extant. Provenance: The Robert M. Lee Collection.