Manufactured in 1902. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver with a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .38-40 caliber, blue finish and pearl stocks with the carved initials "LD" when sold to Choteau Mercantile Co. and shipped to Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Co. of St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 28, 1902. The standard barrel markings are faint and the frame two-line patent dates and circled Rampant Colt markings are legible. Matching serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. At some point the grips listed in the factory letter were changed out to a set of period pearl grips with a relief carved steer head on the right panel. According to the 1995 dated letter of provenance written by Dennis Marcotte of Oregon, "This pistol was lost by a cowboy in 1904 on the Circle 8 Ranch [in Choteau, Montana]. In approximate 1910 the pistol was found by Ken Gleason's uncle." The SAA stayed in the Gleason family until family friend and attorney Harvey Bowles purchased it in 1978. Marcotte bought the revolver from Bowles in March 1989 and then sold it to Jerry Hosman in 1995. Established by Kenneth and Alice Gleason, the Circle 8 operated as a hunting and dude ranch for several decades before being incorporated into the 13,000-acre Pine Butte Preserve, "one of the last strongholds of grizzly bear habitat on the plains and the Rocky Mountain Front's largest wetland complex."

Good, having a smooth brown-gray patina with dark patina on the cylinder and moderate pitting. The slightly undersized grips are fine with a couple chips, minor handing marks and crisp carving. Mechanically needs work as cylinder does not lock properly. A true frontier survivor linked to the famed Circle 8 Ranch in Montana!