This revolver is a rare Lot Six Colt Single Action Army in Cavalry Model configuration. Lot Six is one of the prime lots for revolvers issued to the 7th Cavalry led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876, where Custer's battalion was annihilated by the combined warriors of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho in one of the most infamous defeats in American history. 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 table on page 252 of "Colt Cavalry and Artillery Revolvers. . .a Continuing Study" by Kopec and Fenn indicates the "Prime Serial Number Range" of 5505-6516 for the revolvers issued to Companies D and I and indicates sn. 5505, 5637, 5740, 5743, 6048, 6067, and 6269 from Lot Six all have documented or attributed 7th Cavalry history. Companies D and I received eighty-three revolvers each later than the rest of the 7th Cavalry as they were on detached service at Fort Totten under Major Reno's command with the Northern Boundary Survey. Company I was led by Captain Myles Keogh and were part Custer's ill-fated battalion in the battle while Company D was part of Captain Frederick Benteen's Battalion and led by Captain Thomas Weir. Captain Weir notably led his men forward without orders upon hearing the firing in Custer's direction but was forced back when they came under fire. The revolver features a blade front sight, the one-line barrel address with die breaks in the "o" in "Co." and the "A" in "HARTFORD," "P" and "A" on the bottom of the barrel and side of the cylinder, "A" on the trigger guard and top of the back strap, the two-line patent marking followed by "U.S." on the left side of the frame, "C" in the hammer well between the notch rear sight and firing pin hole, assembly number "942" on the loading gate, and the matching serial number "5839" on the barrel under the ejector housing, cylinder, frame, trigger guard, back strap, and rear grip mortise. The grip has traces of a cartouche on the left. The revolver is one of the early examples fitted with the "old style" mainspring without a hammer roller channel. These were left over components from Model 1860 Army production. The revolver is accompanied by a letter from noted Colt Single Action Army historian and author John A. Kopec noting that this revolver was previously listed in their survey in August 1991 and was manufactured in 1874, sub-inspected by O. W. Ainsworth, and falls within the 5505-6516 serial number range for the Lot Six U.S. contract Colt Cavalry Models. He further notes that National Archive records for the 5800 serial number range are extremely scarce with only Artillery Model 5827 listed. However, they note that 5846, just seven digits away from the present revolver, was reported as "turned-in" by Whirling-White-Head on September 5, 1876, just three months after the 7th Cavalry's disaster at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Revolver 5773 is also referenced as is 5998 which is " a presumptive, alleged Cheyenne capture at the Little Bighorn." Original issuance of these revolvers took place on July 2, 1874, just prior to the 7th Cavalry's departure for the contested Black Hills. Kopec further notes: "The fact that our subject revolver #5839 has survived until this day in its original configuration, suggests that it had escaped the Ordnance Department's recall of 1893 for some unknown reason. The most often cited reason for its survival being, that it had been 'lost', stolen by a deserter, or captured by the hostile Indians. It is however this writer's contention that there may still be other reasons for the survival of these early Ainsworth revolvers that are yet to be discovered."

Very good with slight traces of original finish in the protected areas and otherwise a natural mix of aged gray and brown patina throughout, minimal minor oxidation/pitting, all original markings, replacement base pin screw and ejector assembly, and moderate wear. The grip is also very good and has minor loss at the toe and mild scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. This is an excellent opportunity to get your hands on a genuine Lot Six Ainsworth inspected Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army revolver!