This highly desirable U.S. Colt Single Action Cavalry Model revolver was manufactured in 1878. This revolver is one of 3,000 Colt Single Action revolvers inspected by Ordnance Sub-Inspector Henry Nettleton and Ordnance Inspector Captain John E. Greer. Colt Single Action revolvers that bear the "HN" sub-inspection mark of Henry Nettleton are some of the most collectible of all U.S. contract Single Action revolvers. The revolver has the Colt military blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, hammer and loading gate have a color casehardened finish. The trigger and screws are niter blue and the one-piece walnut grip is oil finished. The ejector rod has the "bullseye" head found on U.S. contract Single Action revolvers below serial number 113,000 and the hammer has elongated cross hatching on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the, third style, "bold block lettered", address: "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." The third style address lacks the hyphen at either end of the marking and is found only on revolvers manufactured between July 1878 and September 1878. The underside of the barrel is stamped with a "P" proof mark and the "H.N." sub-inspection mark. "C" and "G" are stamped on the barrel immediately behind the ejector housing stud. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three line/three date patent markings. The patent markings are followed by the "U.S." property mark; the property mark on this revolver is typical of Nettleton-inspected Single Action revolvers and does not have periods after the "U" and "S" and has the upset marks that indicate the property mark was stamped on a casehardened frame. The bottom of the frame is stamped with the "H.N." sub-inspection mark above the serial number. The loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "3". The left side of the hammer is stamped with the "H.N." sub-inspection mark. "H.N." sub-inspection marks are also present on the cylinder, the trigger guard, back strap and the right heel of the grip. The side of the cylinder is stamped with a small "P" proof mark and the rear face is marked with a "P" and a "T". The full serial number is located on the bottom of the frame, the trigger guard and the back strap. The partial serial number, "8340" is stamped on the barrel beneath the ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. A "C" Colt inspection mark is visible in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The left side of the grip is stamped with the date "1878" above the final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "JEG" with an oval border. The lower right side of the grip is stamped with the script sub-inspector initials "HN" in an oval. The included factory letter confirms the serial number, caliber and finish with the barrel length and type of stocks not listed (usually an indication of a 7 1/2 inch barrel and walnut stocks). The revolver was part of a 100 gun shipment that went to the U.S. Government Inspector located at the Colt plant on July 12, 1878. The included John Kopec silver seal letter authenticates the revolver and concludes that due to remaining in original Cavalry configuration this SAA was stored at one of the state militia armories during the 1893 recall.

Exceptionally fine. The revolver retains 85% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish overall. The barrel shows only very minor finish loss at the muzzle; the "feathered" polishing marks are visible on either side of the front sight blade and above the ejector housing stud. The barrel address, serial number, proof and sub-inspection mark are all crisp. The cylinder exhibits minor edge wear and light handling marks. The serial number, proof mark and sub-inspection mark are very sharp. The trigger guard and backstrap have sharp markings; the backstrap retains attractive "streaked" original blue finish. The frame, hammer and loading gate retain 85% of the casehardened finish with strong case colors; wear is limited to some minor finish loss and light scratches on the left side of the frame between the hammer and trigger screws and the lower portion of the recoil shield. The frame and hammer markings are very crisp. The frame screws and trigger retain most of the fiery niter blue finish. The grip is very fine with very minor handling marks overall; the date, sub-inspection and final inspection marks are extremely sharp. Mechanically excellent. This is an exceptional original example of a highly desirable Henry Nettleton inspected U.S. Colt Single Action Cavalry revolver that would be suitable for the most advanced Colt or U.S. martial arms collection.