Manufactured in 1881, this Colt Model 1878 revolver is marked by the famous Denver, Colorado, retailer J.P. Lower and factory documented as shipped to them. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration as well as shipment to Lower on 21 December 1881 in a six gun shipment. Lower was likely the largest Colt, Sharps, and Winchester retailer west of the Mississippi in the mid to late 1800s and is also credited with ordering the first Colt Model 1878 with 4 inch barrels without ejectors. The top of the barrel on this example is marked with the standard two-line address. The left of the frame has the two-line J.P. Lower Denver, Colorado, marking, and "45 CAL" is on the left of the trigger guard. The full serial number is on the butt and matching last three digits are on the rear face of the cylinder. It is fitted with a blade front sight, frame-top groove rear sight, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops. Includes a leather holster with extensive floral tooling and a leather cartridge belt with a few .45 Long Colt cartridges. Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection

Fine, retains 60% plus of the original nickel finish with the balance having flaked to show a smooth grey patina, primarily in the form of holster/handling wear. The grips are very fine with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster and belt are very good with moderate wear and age related cracking. A western retailer marked Colt Model 1878 with the look of a frontier survivor!