The Battle of Little Bighorn remains the most famous event of the late 19th century Indian Wars and firearms associated with the battle, Custer, and the 7th Cavalry remain among the most coveted and valuable collectible firearms. In the battle, the 7th Cavalry were armed with early Colt Single Action Army revolvers and Springfield Model 1873 Trapdoor carbines, but the troopers' attack on the large Native American camp was halted, and then the combined warriors of the Arapaho, Dakota, Lakota, and Northern Cheyenne counter attacked, routing Reno's detachment and overwhelming and decimating Custer's detachment. The weapons of some of Reno's men as well as presumably nearly all of Custer's men's arms were captured by the Native Americans. This revolver comes from "Lot Five," one of the "prime lots" from which the 7th Cavalry's revolvers were drawn prior to that fateful day, and it has the appearance of a genuine frontier issued and battle tested revolver. As discussed in the included letter from Colt Single Action Army expert John A. Kopec, this revolver was manufactured c. January 5, 1874, and is from the Lot Five (4500-5504) revolvers sold to the U.S. government in 1874. The 7th Cavalry received shipments of revolvers from Rock Island Arsenal to Fort Abraham Lincoln on March 25th, 1874, and they were issued on July 2, 1874, before their departure to the Black Hills. Kopec notes that this revolver was new to his survey and falls between 5138 and 5140 which are recorded as Artillery Models. National Archives records were not found for this revolver, but it falls between 5058 issued to Company H of the 17th Infantry and 5147 issued to Troop L of the 7th Cavalry. In addition to 5147, other revolvers from Lot Five also have documented or presumptive 7th Cavalry history: 5099, 5100, 5126, 5128, 5133, 5153, and 5180. Kopec writes, "The relic condition of this revolver could possibly support a theory of a 'Battlefield pick-up'. The subsequent modifications appears throughout this example would seem to point towards it being subsequently used on the frontier." Some of the modifications include: a slot added at the toe screw, a homemade ejector rod head and cylinder pin, old replacement screws, traces of a white colored paint on the grip. The revolver features a blade front sight, the one-line italic barrel address, the two-line patent marking and "U.S." on the left side of the frame, matching visible serial numbers, assembly number "95" on the loading gate, "A" (Ainsworth) and "P" inspection and proof marks on the barrel and cylinder, and another "A" inspection mark visible behind the hammer on the back strap.

Relic. The revolver has a definite "battlefield pick-up" appearance overall as noted by John Kopec with a mix of gray and brown patina, moderate pitting, buffing, replacement ejector rod head and cylinder pin as well as several replacement screws, well-worn grip with faded paint and chips at the toe, and general heavy wear. In a testament to why the Colt Single Action Army was so popular with the U.S. Cavalry in the American West, even after years of heavy use and abuse, aside from the half-cock notch, the revolver remains mechanically fine. If this Colt Cavalry could talk, what a story it would tell!