This exceptional U.S. Colt Single Action, Cavalry Model Revolver was manufactured in 1874. The revolver is nickel-plated with casehardened hammer and fitted with a one-piece ivory grip. This revolver is pictured and described on page 250 of "A STUDY OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER" by Graham, Kopec and Moore and was formerly part of the famous Bob Howard Colt collection. This U.S. Contract Single Action revolver was inspected by Ordnance Sub-Inspector Orville W. Ainsworth and is stamped with the distinctive small "A" sub-inspection mark on the underside of the barrel, the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, top of the back strap and side of the cylinder. The early style, small "U.S." property mark is stamped on the left side of the frame behind the Colt patent markings. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the early script address "+COLT'S F. A. PT. MFG. Co. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.+" with slanted crosses at either end. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with Colt's "two-date/two-line" patent marking. The assembly number, "930" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. Small "P" proofmarks are stamped on the underside of the barrel and the side of the cylinder. A Colt "C" inspection mark is stamped in the hammer slot and on the rear face of the cylinder. The full serial number "12443", is stamped on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "2443" is stamped on the side of the cylinder and on the barrel beneath the ejector housing. All of the visible serial numbers match. In addition to the script barrel address, small "U.S." property mark, and two-line patent date markings, the revolver has the early production features that include: (1) small cylinder stops, (2) first style ejector housing with barrel boss, (3) boss hole in the barrel, (4) bullseye ejector rod head and (5) elongated, bordered, knurling on the hammer. The revolver was fitted with a one-piece walnut grip when it was photographed for "A STUDY OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER". In "A STUDY" John Kopec details how, in June 1874, the State of Virginia requested the Ordnance Department to issue Virginia several hundred revolvers under the Militia Act. Virginia then sold the un-issued revolvers to a broker who re-sold them to Colt. Colt had the revolvers nickel-plated by the Adams Nickel Plating & Manufacturing Co., of South Windom, Connecticut, and fitted with ivory grips to distinguish them from government contract Single Action Cavalry revolvers. Colt sent the nickel plated U.S. contract revolvers to Colt distributors for commercial sale.

Excellent. The caption for the photograph of this revolver on page 250 of "A STUDY OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER" describes it as in "near new condition". The revolver retains nearly 98% of the nickel plated finish and shows only very minimal handling wear. The hammer retains more than 98% of the casehardened finish with vivid case colors. The screws have minimal screwdriver wear. All of the markings are crisp. The action is tight and functions perfectly. The ivory grip is in very fine condition. The ivory has a yellow age patina and has shrunk slightly. There are hair-line age cracks on the bottom of the grip and on the left side at the junction with the frame. The lower edges of the grip are slightly rounded. This is an outstanding, well-documented, example of a scarce variation of the Colt Single Action Cavalry Model revolver.