This is an excellent original example of a U.S. Colt Single Action Cavalry Model revolver that was manufactured in 1890 as part of the 12th Ordnance Single Action Revolver contract. The revolver is accompanied by a Colt factory letter addressed to Famous Collector Raymond Vanyek on August 22, 1962, that states that it was delivered to The "U.S. Government Inspector at the Colt plant" on April 30, 1890. This revolver was inspected by Ordnance Sub-Inspector Rinaldo A. Carr (R.A.C.) and Captain Stanhope E. Blunt (SEB). The revolver has the Colt military blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, loading gate and hammer have a color casehardened finish and the one-piece walnut grip is oil finished. The revolver has the oval ejector housing adopted about serial number 113,000. The civilian style hammer has border-less knurling on the spur and a concave firing pin. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with address: "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.-" in elongated block letters. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three-date/three-line patent markings followed by the "U.S" property mark. The Sub-Inspector's initials, "R.A.C." are stamped on the underside of the barrel, the bottom of the frame above the serial number, on the side of the cylinder and on the left heel of the grip. A "K" Colt inspection mark is stamped on the trigger guard, the back strap, on the front of the ejector housing and on the barrel behind the ejector housing stud. "O" is stamped in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. "P" proofmarks are stamped on the underside of the barrel in front of the "R.A.C." sub-inspection mark and on the side of the cylinder. The full serial number, "131615" is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number. "1615" is stamped on the barrel beneath the ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. The assembly number, "278", is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The lower left side of the grip is stamped with the date "1890" above the final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "SEB" enclosed in a rectangle with rounded edges. The Ordnance sub-inspection mark which consists of the script initials "RAC" in a rectangle is stamped on the lower right side of the grip.

Excellent. The revolver retains 90% plus of the original blue and 95% color casehardened finish. The factory 'feathered' polishing marks are visible on either side of the front sight blade. The barrel and ejector housing have some very minor edge wear. The cylinder has more than 90% of the blue finish with minor turn marks and edge wear. The trigger guard has nearly all of the original blue finish. The back strap, typically, has the most finish wear with thin military blue finish on contact points. The frame and loading gate retain at least 95% of the color casehardened finish with very strong case colors in protected areas. The grip and frame screws are in excellent condition and retain most of the niter blue finish. The grip is in excellent condition; most of the Ordnance final inspection marks and the "1890" are legible. The markings on the barrel, frame, cylinder and grip are clear. The bore is bright. The action is crisp and functions perfectly. This is an excellent, original, well-documented example of a late production, "R.A.C.'' sub-inspected, Colt Single Action Cavalry Model revolver originally from the Vanyek collection!