Designed by William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff, Colt's factory manager and Superintendent of Engineering, the Model 1878 revolver was intended to be a double action alternative to Colt's legendary Single Action Army revolver. With 51,210 being produced (This example 51175, 45 numbers from the last number!), the 1878 was never nearly as popular as its single action cousin, however, there were still many that favored it in the west for its firepower. This example was manufactured in 1905 and has the standard two-line address marked on top of the barrel desirable 4 inch barrel and the caliber marking on the left. There is a circled Rampant Colt marked on the left of the frame. There is a blade front sight at the muzzle and a sighting groove in the top of the frame. It is fitted with a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts in ovals at the top of each panel. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as shipment to Charles J. Godfrey, a prominent distributor in New York.

Very good, retains 30% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina, typical of a holstered and well-traveled revolver. The faded grips are also very good and show the light wear of having spent plenty of time in the hand of a previous owner, with most of the checkering remaining well-defined. Mechanically fine.