Manufactured in 1930, this revolver bears markings associated with the Railway Mail Service. A sub-unit of the United States Post Office, the RMS was the biggest mover of domestic mail by volume, operating out of rail cars, sorting en-route, and exchanging mail at stations without even stopping the train. RMS clerks often transported large sums of money, including acting as escort to federal gold shipments, made robbery a real and present danger, requiring the armament of the clerks. While a large number of armed clerks rode the rails, most of the issued revolvers were reportedly destroyed at the end of their service lives, leaving few survivors. Fixed blade and notch sights, with "GWA" (Colonel George A. Woody, Springfield Armory) in lieu of the more typical "VP", "R.M.S. P.O. DEPT." on the back strap, and "No. 5199" on the butt. Fitted with a pair of checkered medallion grips. With an unlabeled, hand-numbered Colt "black box", instruction sheet, an incomplete hang tag, and a 1933 letter on RMS letterhead addressed to a Marcus Hudson acknowledging receipt of a certified check in payment "for the loss of your Colt revolver No. 5199"; while no information on Hudson is available, the presence of the letter with revolver #5199 suggests that Hudson was a RMS clerk, #5199 was his issued sidearm, and he "lost" it in lieu of turning it back in.

Very fine, with 85% plus of the original blue finish, showing some light spotting on the cylinder, a few hints of brown and gray patina, and mild edge wear and handling marks. The grips are fine, with some dents and verdigris buildup. The box is fair, with some tearing and material loss. Mechanically excellent.