Only 1,000 military contract Walker revolvers were manufactured by Samuel Colt at Eli Whitney's factory in Connecticut in 1847 after Colt worked with Samuel Walker of the U.S. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen to develop an improved revolver suitable for hard military service. The Walker was incredibly powerful for a repeating handgun and remained the most powerful commercially produced handgun until the development of the .357 Magnum nearly a century later. These massive "horse pistols" are responsible for relaunching Samuel Colt’s firearms business and propelling his name and his firearms to international fame. Due to this extensive use in the mid-19th century and beyond as well as problems inherent in the design, relatively few Walkers survive, but they remain the pinnacle of collecting for serious antique American firearms collectors, especially Colt collectors and U.S. military handgun collectors. Given the demand and the small number extant, these incredibly historic revolvers are among the most difficult to obtain of all antique American firearms. They are certainly the most iconic firearms of the Mexican-American War which led to the United States greatly expanding our western territories and stretching our country from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the opening of the California Gold Rush, and increasing sectional tensions between the North and the South that ultimately led to secession and the Civil War. Some of the Walkers remained in service between the Mexican-American War and Civil War on the southwestern frontier, and those still functioning after hard years of service continued to be used during the "War Between the States" primarily in Confederate hands and particularly in the Southwest with men like Terry's Texas Rangers. This revolver is listed among the identified Walker's in Col. Whittington's book "The Colt Whitneyville-Walker Pistol" on page 80 and was displayed as part of the famous Parade of Walkers in 2003. It caught collector's attention with its period added notch rear sight and higher than average condition for a Walker. It is one of an estimated 220 revolvers manufactured with "D COMPANY" marking. It has a low brass blade front sight, "ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY" reading from the breech towards the muzzle, "US/1847" on the right side of the barrel above the wedge screw, "D COMPANY No 81" on the left side of the barrel and frame, "81" on the front of the frame between the pins, "D COM-Y No 81" on the cylinder, "D COMY No 81" on the trigger guard, faint marking including "81" on the butt, small "B" stamped towards the center of the back strap, blank wedge, and walnut grip.

Very good with primarily light gray patina, patches of darker patina, light pitting, abrasive marks, mild scratches and dings, and general moderate overall wear. The period added rear sight on the rear of the barrel shows dark discoloration, similar to the area around the loading lever retention screw. The loading lever assembly and retention spring are professionally made replacements. The back strap and trigger guard markings have been partially obliterated during the period of usage. The cylinder scene is absent although the number is visible. The well-worn grip is good and has loss at the corners. Mechanically fine. This is a solid representative example of the most important and desirable of all Colt firearms. Few authentic U.S. Colt Walker Model Revolvers are known to collectors!