Offered here is a very fine condition, highly desirable pre-1899 manufactured Colt Peacemaker accompanied by a scarce Colt factory picture box. The included factory letter confirms the 4 3/4 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, and hard rubber stocks as well as shipped to Simmons Hardware Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, on November 30, 1898. This shipment was for 12 units. The barrel has the two-line Hartford address on top and "45 COLT" on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by a circled Rampant Colt. Matching numbers are present on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The picture box features an end label correctly listing the .45 caliber, 4 3/4 barrel, blue finish, and hard rubber stocks. The interior of the lid features an Ideal reloading tool advertisement. It is the standard period correct Colt cardboard box with hinged lid (formed by linen cloth pasted to the box) and the picture label on the exterior of the lid. This box was sent through the mail at least once as the underside has four period U.S. stamps (one 1 cent and three 2 cent stamps) and illegible return and delivery addresses. It would appear that the delivery address is to somewhere in Texas.

Exceptionally fine, retaining 75% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. 70% plus original case colors remain on the hammer and frame. The grips are excellent with a few minor handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fair with repairable split lid corners, picture label, mostly complete end label. Due to a low survivability rate, these Colt SAA picture boxes are rarely encountered in any condition. Even the most advanced SAA collections lack one of these boxes. A solid representative example of a pre-1899 SAA with the nearly impossible to find period correct most likely original Colt factory picture box. This SAA will definitely enhance any Colt collection.