This high condition Colt Artillery Model revolver was reviewed by famed Colt historian and author John Kopec. In this gold seal letter of authentication Kopec explained that the host revolver was from an 1878 Ainsworth inspected U.S. Cavalry revolver which was returned to the Colt factory in 1903 for Artillery Model configuration. After World War I and into the 1920s, these Artillery Model revolvers were sold as surplus through period dealers such as Francis Bannerman and W. Stokes Kirk. Others were distributed to NRA members. The right side of the grip carries the "1903" refurbishment date above Rinaldo A. Carr's sub-inspector script letter cartouche. Carr's "RAC" are also stamped twice on the bottom of the grip. The back strap came from a Frank Heath inspected host revolver no. 115810 manufactured in 1885. The trigger guard (94763) was from a David F. Clark inspected host revolver from 1883. The barrel and cylinder were replaced by Colt in 1903 as part of the refurbishment. The cylinder carries the sub-inspector "RAC" initials on the rear face, and the barrel is stamped with the correct short one-line Hartford address. The hammer is the standard 1880s style.

Very fine retaining 90% plus of the Colt factory applied blue finish. The hammer and frame retain traces of case colors in the protected areas, otherwise faded to a silver gray. The grip is also very fine showing some high edge wear, scattered handling marks, and crisp date and cartouche. Mechanically excellent. An overall attractive U.S. Colt Artillery Model revolver.