Manufactured in 1874 and inspected by Ordnance Sub-Inspector Orville W. Ainsworth. The top of the barrel is marked with the early script one line address flanked by crosses and the left side of the frame is marked with the two line, two patent dates followed by "U.S." The underside of the barrel is marked with the "A" and "P" inspection marks, the complete matching serial number is marked on the barrel, under the ejector, bottom of the frame, trigger guard, cylinder and back strap with the assembly number "156" on the loading gate. The revolver has a "bull's-eye" ejector rod head, early style ejector housing with barrel dowel, early cylinder with small bolt stops and guides and cavalry style hammer with elongated cross-hatching on the spur. Ainsworth's "A" sub-inspection mark is visible on the barrel, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder and on the bottom of the left side of the grip. A Colt "C" inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The left side of the grip is stamped with the script initials "OWA" cartouche in a rectangle. The revolver is accompanied by a Letter of Authentication by Colt Single Action expert John A. Kopec. The Kopec letter notes that this revolver falls between the serial numbers of two revolvers issued to the 8th U.S. Cavalry Regiment and that it also may have been issued to the 8th Cavalry in 1874.

Good as professionally restored. The revolver has a smooth dove-gray patina with some very minor flash pitting on the cylinder. The grip is fine with moderate lower edge handling wear, right grip panel edge wear, and legible sub-inspector inspection marks on the left heel. The frame markings and serial numbers are sharp. The action is crisp and functions perfectly. The Kopec letter states that the barrel, mainspring, trigger and ejector head are modern replacements with facsimile markings and that the ejector tube has been re-worked to incorporate a dowel hole. These parts are excellent reproductions and have been expertly aged to match the finish on the frame and cylinder. The replacement parts can only be detected by close comparison to original parts. This is an attractive example of a scarce and very desirable Ainsworth inspected Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Revolver that is very difficult to obtain in original configuration.