This U.S. contract Colt Single Action Cavalry Revolver was manufactured in 1873. Included is a letter of evaluation from Colt Single Action expert John A. Kopec stating that the three digit serial number (972) was noted in a previous survey and falls between No. 965 and No. 985 in his database. The letter also states that Colt Single Action No. 882 was documented as being issued to the 10th Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers). This revolver has the unique features of an early production Cavalry revolver. These features include: 1) ejector housing with barrel boss and barrel with boss hole; 2) cylinder with small stops; 3) straight cylinder and ejector housing edge; and 4) mainspring without hammer roller channel. The barrel is roll-stamped with the early one line script address flanked with slanted crosses ("+COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.+"). The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the early two-date/two-line patent marking followed by the "U.S." property mark. The underside of the barrel is stamped with a "P" proofmark, an "A" sub-inspection mark and the serial number "973". Like the barrel, has the number "973" and is stamped with an "A". The serial number "972" is present on the frame, trigger guard and back strap, with serial number "972" also written on the grip back strap cut-out. The Kopec letter states that the one-digit serial number discrepancy on the barrel and cylinder indicates that those components were switched during manufacture. The small "A" inspection mark of Ordnance Sub-Inspector Orville W. Ainsworth is visible on the back strap and on the trigger guard below the serial number. A "G" Colt inspection mark is stamped on the barrel between the ejector rod screw hole and boss hole. A "C" is stamped behind the boss hole and in the frame hammer well above the firing pin hole. An "H" is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. The loading gate does not have a visible assembly number. Rack number "19" is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard above the rear bow. The loading gate has no visible assembly number.

Good. The revolver has a gray brown patina. The barrel address, patent dates and "U.S." property mark are sharp. There is light pitting at the muzzle, on the forward edges of the frame and trigger guard. The cylinder has deeper pitting on the sides and face. There are numerous small dents on the underside of the barrel and ejector housing. The cylinder pin is battered. The ejector rod head is a handmade replacement that is contemporary to the revolver. The front sight blade has been filed to form a bead. The Kopec letter notes that the mainspring appears to be a contemporary "blacksmith" replacement. The one-piece walnut grip shows heavy handling wear and is chipped and worn at the heels. The hammer does not hold at half-cock. This is a great example of a first year production, Ainsworth sub-inspected, Colt Single Action Cavalry revolver that shows the results of hard frontier use. Most Cavalry Single Action revolvers were subsequently altered to "Artillery" configuration between 1895 and 1903. The revolvers that remained in the original Cavalry configuration were either issued to state militias or were lost, stolen or captured during service with cavalry regiments on the frontier. It is clear that this is one of the later revolvers with a history of hard western use.