Manufactured in 1902. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in desirable .44 caliber, blue finish and type of stocks not listed when shipped to Missoula Mercantile Company of Missoula, Montana, on November 5, 1902. This was a single gun shipment. The Eddy-Hammond Company, more commonly known as the Missoula Mercantile, dominated wholesale and retail trade in the Missoula area from 1885 to 1920, and was known as the "go to" shopping center in the town. Across its three floors of space The Mercantile offered hardware, plumbing supplies, local groceries, furniture, farm equipment, and of course guns. Over the years stories about The Mercantile have ranged from urban legends of Ringling Brothers elephants being kept in the basement when the circus was in town, to the true story of the passage in the basement used by John Wayne to move between the store and the nearby Florence Hotel when he was in Missoula. The revolver has standard Colt markings, matching serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard and back strap, and a fine relief carved steer head on the right grip panel.

Fine, retaining 40% plus original blue and case colors with a smooth brown-gray patina on the balance. The attractively aged grips are very good with some hairline age cracking visible mostly on the bottom, attractive mellow age appearance and crisp desirable steer head carving. Mechanically excellent. Truly a fine piece of American west history that is well above average condition for a Bisley that certainly saw use on the open range. Provenance: The John Fox Collection.