This early production U.S. contract Cavalry Model Colt Single Action Army was sub-inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth. The revolver was examined by noted Colt historian and author John Kopec, and he recorded his observations in the included silver seal letter of authentication. The revolver no. 6474 was previously listed in Kopec’s survey and falls between nos. 6472 (an Artillery revolver) and 6476 (an Artillery component) in the survey. The revolver was not located in the records held at the National Archives but falls between nos. 6413 issued to the 2nd Cavalry and 6547 issued to the 5th Cavalry as noted in the National Archives records. Kopec noted that our subject revolver is Lot Six, “one of the ‘prime’ lots from which those revolvers that had been issued to the 7th Cavalry were drawn. These issues were made from Fort Abraham Lincoln to these troopers just prior to their departure into the Black Hills on July 2nd, 1874.” A total of 921 Colts were shipped to the 7th Cavalry from the Rock Island Arsenal in 1874. Of those, approximately 300 were from Lot Six. The revolver (no. 6474) is closely related to a cylinder (no. 6450) recovered at the Custer battlefield circa 1978. Also of note is revolver nos. 6559 which is documented as “Rendered unserviceable at the Little Bighorn c. 1876.” On page 28 of "Colt Cavalry and Artillery Revolvers" by John A. Kopec and H. Sterling Fenn, this specific revolver is listed by serial number as being one of the Ainsworth New York Militia Revolvers. The authors state, "Most have not yet been discovered." This makes this already highly desirable Custer Era Ainsworth Colt Cavalry SAA even more desirable. In the included letter of authentication Kopec provided additional details specially related to this revolver. He stated, “The grips fitted to this revolver required our special analysis. First of all, these grips were exchanged during the 1895 refurbishing with a used set of grips from a Cavalry revolver bearing the partial serial #1134. Then during the refurbishing, these grips were given the complete serial number 6474 of our subject revolver. No ordnance inspector’s cartouches were applied to these grips. After being issued to a N.Y. Militia unit these grips were stamped with a unit identification marking and a ‘rack-position’ number. After being released to the public their new owner obliterated these grip markings.” Additional history on this revolver is gleamed from an accompanying December 3, 1994 dated letter of provenance from A. Mark Horvat. In this typed written and notarized letter Horvat stated that the revolver listed by serial number had been in his family for 75-80 years. The revolver was given to his grandfather by a Hungarian emigrant during the Ludlow Massacre that took place during the coal mine strikes near Trinidad, Colorado, in 1914. The grandfather helped the emigrant by letting him stay at his home for several weeks, and this revolver was the only thing the emigrant had of any value so he gave it to the man as a showing of appreciation. The Ludlow Massacre resulted in the deaths of 25 people including 11 children and two women killed in a fire started by the National Guard and was one of the most violent episodes in U.S. labor history. The top of the barrel is marked with the early slant letter "+ COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A+." The two line, two patent date marking on the left side of the frame is followed by "U.S." The cylinder, trigger guard and top of the back strap are marked with Ainsworth’s "A" initial, and there is also a "P" proof mark on the cylinder. There is a "C" marked in the hammer well. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, back strap, barrel under the correct ejector housing, and cylinder. The loading gate is marked with the assembly number "879". The ejector rod head is the correct early "bulls eye" or donut style with the hole in the center, blue finish with casehardened frame and hammer, and fitted with a smooth one-piece walnut grip. Nearly all of these early issued Cavalry Models saw hard use. Surviving examples of are difficult to find and inevitably show heavy service wear. Provenance: The Horvat Family; The Gateway Collection

Fine. The metal surfaces have 40% blue with the balance a mottled gray patina with bright original blue finish in protected areas. There is some blue present on the cylinder, heaviest in the flutes. The frame shows 40% original case colors with a smooth gray patina on the balance. The grip is good with hole carved into the upper left side, some flattening on the left side, lower edge wear and numerous dings on the bottom, which also extent to the butt of the back strap. The markings are clear. The action functions, but the half cock notch is absent. A solid representative example of a prime 7th Cavalry Lot Six serial number range Ainsworth inspected Colt Cavalry Model Revolver identified as a New York militia small arm with an intriguing connection to early 20th century American labor relations. This Colt Cavalry Model certainly has it all and would be a welcome addition to any collection.