Manufactured in 1874. This revolver was one of the first group of U.S. Cavalry Single Action revolvers manufactured by Colt and inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth. The revolver is accompanied by a letter of authentication by Colt Single Action expert John A. Kopec. The Kopec letter states that the serial number of this revolver, "5173", places it in 'Lot Five' of the Ainsworth-inspected Single Action Cavalry revolvers. The 600 'Lot Five' revolvers are considered to be the pistols primarily issued to Custer's 7th Cavalry and carried at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. The letter also states that this revolver falls within a group of identified 7th Cavalry revolvers that include serial numbers 5100 (Custer Battle pickup), 5133, 5147 (Troop L, 7th Cavalry), 5153 and 5180. The letter further states that there is a good possibility that this revolver was issued to the 7th Cavalry. The revolver has the early barrel with dowel hole behind the ejector housing screw hole, early ejector housing with dowel pin and bull's-eye ejector rod head and early style cylinder with small bolt stops and guides. The hammer has elongated knurling on the spur. The barrel is marked with the early one line 'script style' address: "+ COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.+". A small "P" proofmark is stamped on the underside of the barrel just ahead of the frame and on the side of the cylinder. The left side of the frame is stamped with the early two line, two patent dates followed by the "U.S." property mark. The loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "329". Small Ainsworth "A" sub-inspection marks are stamped on the trigger guard, cylinder and back strap. The full serial number is stamped on the barrel under the ejector housing, the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, back strap and on the cylinder. The Kopec letter states that the ejector assembly and grip are correct replacements and notes that the grip is serial numbered "5802" and probably came from revolver serial number "15802" manufactured in 1875. The revolver is complete with a U.S. Third Type Pattern 1881 holster for Colt Cavalry Single Action or S&W Schofield revolvers. The black leather holster has two finial holes in the flap to allow it to fit either a Colt or S&W revolver. The holster body is embossed with "U.S." in an oval and the flap is stamped "ROCK ISLAND/ARSENAL" in two lines. The flap is also stamped with the inspector and sub-inspector initials "W.T.G." and "MCG".

Very good. The revolver shows the wear typical of a military weapon that saw field service. The barrel, frame, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap have a dark gray-brown patina, with some scattered dents on the barrel, with light to moderate pitting at the muzzle and near the frame around the cylinder pin. There is some minor flash pitting on the frame ahead of the cylinder. The cylinder has light pitting in the flutes and near the rear face, and some light flash pitting on the sides of the hammer. There are several minor dents on the bottom of the trigger guard and back strap. The replaced ejector housing has gray-brown patina on the side and retains a considerable amount of the original blue finish on the upper edge. The barrel and frame markings are clear and the serial numbers are sharp. The "P" proofmarks and "A" sub-inspector marks are light but legible. The grip is good overall and fits well, with moderate handling wear with rounded edges on the butt. No Ordnance inspection or sub-inspection marks are visible. The Later production Model 1881 holster is in very good condition with strong embossed "U.S." marking on the body and legible markings on the flap. All of the stitching is tight. Wear is limited to light to moderate age cracking on the holster body and flap. This is a very good example of a very rare and desirable Colt Single Action Cavalry Model revolver that is in the serial number range of pistols that are documented as issued to the 7th Cavalry and used in the Battle of Little Bighorn.