Early New Service Target sights and related questions

[srb]

New Service Target in 44 Russian. Blue with plain pearl stocks (no carving or medaliions).

The Colt Archive letter confirms it was sold to the Folsom Store Company, "address unavailable", and shipped with blue finish and pearl stocks as a single gun shipment to Lyon Brothers, Chicago IL on February 20 1903.

I have noted that the front and rear sights elements are definitely color case hardened and not blue (though the set and adjusting screws are blue). I can recall seeing that feature on a Bisley Target of that era but not on an NST. Was it a common or uncommon feature for the Colt target guns in those days?

The plain pearl stocks seem an odd choice for a target pistol that would normally wear fleur-de-lys stocks - the factory letter was a relief.

Also do the stocks and sights plus the Colt letter mean a customer would most likely have ordered special features and gotten Lyons Brothers in Illinois to put that order into Colt via the Folsom Store?

Can any one tell me about Lyon Brothers of Chicago and why they would have gone through the Folsom Store rather than direct to Colt?

Any observations and info would be very welcome.

Thanks

Steve

[Kid Sopris]

Lyon Brothers
Chicago, Illinois

Was Direct from Colt according to: Companies Colt Shipped Firearms to

[Kid Sopris]

look at This Flyer:[Catalog]

[srb]

Thanks for those links and info, Kid Sopris. Guys like you make this the great site it is!

(Sorry about the mis-spelling, (now corrected) KS)

[broknaxl]

Shouldn't it be "Fish like you?" Some great info Kid! LOL -- Great sounding gun though. How about some photos - I have a New Service Target in the .44 Russian/.44 S&W cal. also.

[Kid Sopris]

Shouldn't it be "Fish like you?"

"You Funny G.I. "

[twaits]

How about some pictures of this fine revolver?

[srb]

How about some pictures of this fine revolver?

Bit of a newbie on the photography but here goes:

[Walter Rego]

That is a beautiful revolver srb. What can you tell us about the fitted case ? Is that one of the Colt hex shaft sight adjusting tools in the slot ?

[charles isaac]

That is such a beautiful revolver, thanks for posting it.