This extraordinary U.S. Colt Model 1873 Single Action Cavalry revolver was manufactured in 1874. The revolver was inspected by Ordnance Sub-inspector Orville W. Ainsworth and is stamped with his distinctive small "A" sub-inspection mark on the underside of the barrel, the bottom of the trigger guard, cylinder and back strap. The revolver has the military blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame and loading gate have a color casehardened finish. The one-piece walnut grip has an oil finish. The ejector housing has the beveled front outer edge and is stamped with the serial number "3504" on the rear flat near the cylinder pin. In "A STUDY OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER" Colt expert John A. Kopec identified eight Ainsworth sub-inspected Single Action revolvers between serial number 3433 and 4792 that had ejector housings stamped with the revolver serial number. The ejector rod has the "bullseye" head. The cylinder is the early pattern with small bolt stops and guides. The hammer has the elongated cross hatching on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the early, "script", address: "+COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.+" with slanted crosses at either end of the marking. The underside of the barrel is stamped with a "P" proof mark ahead of the "A" sub-inspection mark. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the early, "PAT.SEPT.19.1871/PAT. JULY.2.1872", patent dates in two lines followed by the "U.S." property mark. The loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "806". A "C" Colt inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The cylinder is stamped with a "P" proof mark, the "A" sub-inspection mark and the serial number "3504". In addition to the serial number on the ejector housing and the cylinder, the serial number "3504" is visible on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. "3504" is written in pencil on the inside of the back strap inlet on the grip. All of the visible serial numbers match. The "LD" initials of Ordnance sub-inspector Lewis Draper are stamped in small letters on the lower right side of the grip (Draper's "L.D." sub-inspection mark is usually found on Cavalry Model Single Action revolvers manufactured in 1876-1877). The serial number of this revolver, "3504" is close to that of a revolver, "3508", that was issued to Company K, 4th Cavalry regiment in 1874. Most of the Ainsworth inspected Colt Cavalry Model Single Action revolvers were issued to the ten cavalry regiments on the frontier. Nearly all of these revolvers were subsequently refurbished and altered to "Artillery" configuration in the 1890s or were expended in service. Original examples of Ainsworth inspected Cavalry Single Action revolvers are scarce and very desirable.

Very fine. The revolver retains 80% of the period military blue and casehardened finish. Most of the finish wear is concentrated on the left side of the barrel where the blue has faded to a plum brown patina. The balance of the barrel and ejector housing retain nearly all of the blue finish. The "feathered" polishing marks are visible on either side of the front sight blade. The Colt address and the proof and sub-inspection mark on the underside of the barrel are crisp. The bore is bright. The cylinder retains most of the original blue finish. The back strap and grip strap show moderate handling wear and retain 75% of the "streaked" original blue finish. The balance of the trigger guard shows minimal wear. The frame, hammer and loading gate have 90% or more of the color casehardened finish. The finish has faded but the case colors. The frame, trigger guard and grip screws retain most of the original niter blue finish and are free from screw-driver marks. The trigger has most of the faded niter blue finish. The grip fits perfectly and is in very fine condition; wear is limited to some minor handling marks on the inside of the left side of the grip and a small chip on the right side of the grip at the junction of the grip strap and back strap. The "LD" sub-inspection marks on the lower right side of the grip are crisp. Early pre-Custer Ainsworth inspected, U.S. Cavalry Model Single Action revolvers are scarce in any condition. Revolvers like this example with the early, serial numbered, ejector housing and high amounts of original finish are extremely rare.