This is a rare and high condition early Colt Single Action Army revolver from 1874 in the highly desirable original Cavalry Model configuration. In his included gold seal letter from June 19, 2023, Colt Single Action Army authority John A. Kopec notes that this revolver was new to his survey and fell directly between Cavalry Model 8553 and Artillery Model 8555 in his database. This revolver was manufactured in 1874 and was part of the "Lot Eight" revolvers (7528-8652) sub-inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth whose "cartouche remains in excellent condition (As new!) on the left grip panel" as noted by Kopec. This lot was shipped to the government on March 14, 1874, and some of them went to the 8th Cavalry, including 8557, per National Archive records, and this revolver may have been issued in the third quarter of 1874. Kopec notes that 15 Cavalry revolvers in the 8500 range are known and thus they somehow avoided the 1893 Ordnance Department recall. The revolver has a blade front sight, the "+COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.+" barrel address with breaks in the "o" in "Co." and the "A" in "HARTFORD," "PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871/PAT. JULY.2.1872" and "U.S." on the left side of the frame, "P" and "A" on the cylinder and underside of the barrel ahead of the cylinder pin, additional "A" sub-inspection marks on the front of the trigger guard and back strap behind the hammer, "C" between the notch rear sight and firing pin hole in the hammer well, all matching visible serial numbers, assembly number "533" on the loading gate, a distinct "OWA" script cartouche on the left side of the grip, and another "A" sub-inspection mark on the lower left of the grip. Kopec's additional findings concerning the revolver include: That it has the "old style" mainspring believed to be a carry-over from the Model 1860 Army production and does not have a hammer roller guide. The grips are matching numbered in the backstrap channel and have the early pointed grip spacer. The cartouche remains in outstanding condition. The "feathering" remains in fine condition by the front sight. The serial number on the barrel is stamped higher than normal leaving it visible at the edge of the ejector tube, a variation noted on some others in this range, and the "8" is stamped inverted on the barrel and cylinder which is also known on sn. 8553. Kopec notes that "after considerable consideration, together with the only logical evidence, it is the opinion of this written that our subject revolver #8554 had originally been issued to the 8th Cavalry within a block of revolvers beginning with #8357 and ending with serial #8886. A rather significant sampling of these 8th Cavalry revolvers including #8606, #8609, #8784, #8842 and #8886 were reported as being 'stolen' (deserters?) as early as June 19th 1876. These revolvers were only about two years old when they had been 'liberated.' It is therefore very possible that our subject revolver had also been stolen from the 8th Cavalry during the early Indian Wars period." However, the revolver is also accompanied by a statement signed by John F. Hartley who indicates he owned a sword and sheath, spurs, and pistol passed down to him by his father, John D. Hartley, prior to the latter's death in 1991 and indicated that they had all been owned by General Thomas Warren Bennett who gave them to Bennett Grove. According to an article in The Palladium-Item and Sun-Telegram of Richmond, Indiana, on August 13, 1943, Bennett Miller Grove (1875-1962) was the son of Dr. John L. Grove, a dentist in Liberty, and was named after Bennett and Col. John Miller who were friends of Dr. Grove, and "Uncle Tom" gave young Grove his first suit. Another included letter indicates the revolver was later acquired from Sue Hartley, and now the revolver comes to us via another Indiana family. Newspaper clippings and other documents relating to Thomas W. Bennett and some of the items are also included. Thomas Warren Bennett (1831-1893) was born in Union County, Indiana, and studied law at Ashbury University (present day DePauw University) and graduated in 1854 and was elected a professor of mathematics and natural science at Whitewater College in Centerville and worked there until 1855 and then practiced law in Liberty, Indiana, and was elected as a state senator in 1858. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised a company of volunteers and was a captain in the 15th Indiana Volunteers and later as a major in the 36th and colonel in the 69th and later a brigadier general. He fought in numerous battles during the Vicksburg Campaign under Grant and led his brigade during the Red River Campaign under General Nathaniel P. Banks. In 1864, he was also elected as a state senator, and in 1868 moved to Richmond, Indiana, where he served as mayor for two years before being appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant to serve as the territorial governor of Idaho in 1871-1875. In 1874, he ran for congressional delegate for the territory and was initially believed to have won but was found to have lost upon review. He returned to Richmond where he was again elected mayor in 1877-1883 and 1885-1887. Like many Civil War veterans, he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he was also on the Soldiers' Monument Commission until his death. When he died, he was noted as "Richmond's Best Known Citizen." He had been ill for two years, and some sources indicate the illness was the result of sunstroke from his time in the army. It does not appear that he had any children that survived to adulthood, so a gift of some of his possessions to the son of a friend that had been named after him would certainly make sense. How exactly Bennett would have acquired a government issued revolver is not immediately clear, but, while territorial governor in Idaho, he worked to get the most up to date firearms for the territorial militia, including Colt Single Action Army revolvers. The Idaho Statesman, for example, on August 20, 1874, states: "On the 13th of August, Governor Bennett made a requisition on the Ordnance Department for the quota of arms apportioned to this Territory, designating the kind of arms desired. He has received a notice that his requisition has been complied with and that the commanding officer of the Benecia Arsenal has been directed to forward at once the following: 86 Springfield carbines; 86 Colt's revolvers; 86 cavalry sabres; 86 sets cavalry accoutrements; 8,600 carbine cartridges; 8,600 pistol cartridges. These arms are of the latest pattern, and are similar to those with which the Custer expedition is armed, making a complete outfit for a cavalry company of 86 men." It is possible this revolver was acquired by the governor in relation to that effort. Kopec in his letter notes that "Idaho received their initial consignment of these revolvers on August 3rd 1874 near the middle of the 3rd Quarter of 1874. The remaining exceptional condition of this revolver could possibly indicate prior militia association." He also notes that many of the militia revolvers exchanged for Colt double actions c. 1902 were sold off as surplus through Bannerman's and were noted to be in "almost new" condition. Provenance: General Thomas Warren Bennett; Bennett Miller Grove; The Hartley Family; Property of a Lady

Exceptionally fine, both an outstanding and historic Lot 8 U.S. Cavalry Model Colt Single Action Army. The revolver retains over 75% of the original blue and casehardened finish and has some thinning and fading from age and use, what Kopec referred to as "moist holster damage" on the cylinder leading to some pitting near the serial number and within the flutes, and minor dings and scratches. The grip has some "tack-driving" marks on the butt mainly on the right but is otherwise very fine with minor handling wear, an excellent cartouche, and distinct "A" stamp on the bottom left. Mechanically excellent.