Only approximately 2,000 of these conversion revolvers were manufactured c. 1873-1875 with round barrels and side mounted ejectors. They are further split into 4 1/2, 5 1/2, and 6 1/2 inch barrel versions and rimfire and centerfire variations. Only a very limited number were engraved. This revolver has extensive scroll engraving with punched backgrounds and decorative borders and wavy line accents on the barrel, rear of the cylinder, frame, loading gate, trigger guard, and backstrap. The elaborate scroll engraving is in the style popularized by L.D. Nimschke and other German-American engravers back in the 1850s and 1860s and was likely executed for a retailer. The barrel has a brass post front sight and the two-line "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A." address. The left side of the frame has the two-line "-PAT. JULY. 25. 1871-/-PAT. JULY. 2. 1872.-" marking. The cylinder has the standard stagecoach holdup scene. The serial numbers on the barrel, cylinder, frame, trigger guard, and back strap match. "1815" is marked on the loading gate and arbor pin, and the wedge is a replacement. The major parts are all finished in gilt silver (gold over silver plating). The hammer is casehardened, and the trigger is niter blued. It has a very attractive pair of pearl grips. The case has a cleaning rod, L-shaped screwdriver, key, and a large cartridge block that is partially filled with cartridges.

Very fine with crisp engraving and markings, 75% plus of the bright New York period retailer applied gold finish, some darkened silver at the edges of the gold, strong case colors and niter blue, smooth gray patina on the balance, some small patches of minor pitting, and minor overall wear. The attractive pearl grips are very fine and have attractive iridescent colors, minor edge wear, some faint flaws on the right by the toe, and general minor handling and storage wear. Mechanically excellent. The case is very good with a repaired crack in the lid, mild age and storage related wear, and oxidation on the cartridges.