This Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless serial number 56 was shipped to the MIssoula Mercantile Company of Missoula, Montana on July 18th, 1903 in a 2 gun shipment.
This is a first year production pistol and is considered a type 1 variant. It would have originally worn Colt's high polish finish with fire blue small parts. Some is still able to be seen on the left panel grip screw.
Type 1 pistols exhibit the following features: 4" barrel with external barrel bushing, Thumb safety without the opposing retaining screw, Type 1 hard rubber grips, Plunge milled slide serrations, Early style sights, Full blue magazine and the "Brownings Patent / Pat'd April 20.1897" roll mark.