The accompanying factory letter lists revolver with a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .44/40 caliber, blue finish, grips not listed when shipped to Carl Engel of Butte, Montana on April 24, 1905. This was a single gun shipment. Carl Engel (1871-1956) owned a successful sporting goods store in the lively mining town Butte, Montana that sponsored lots of local shooting events with the Butte Rod and Gun Club. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Masons, later a deputy sheriff circa 1925-1931 during Prohibition, became an insurance agent after 1931 and resided in Reno, Nevada circa 1952 until his death in 1956. The barrel has the two-line Hartford address on top and "FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line, three patent dates marking followed by a circled Rampant Colt. Matching serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and both grip panels hand-numbered "6571". Provenance: The John Fox Collection

Very fine overall, a result of authentic care and authentic Montana use, retaining 60% original case colors on the frame, 50% original blue finish with scattered flaking on the barrel, western wear marks on the cylinder, wear concentrated on the front strap evident of a real wrist slinger skilled in the art of the quick draw, and wear inside the trigger guard from a handful of roulette wheel trigger spins. Grips are also very fine with Montana brown patina and some light handling marks. Mechanically excellent.