This is a desirable example of a very fine U.S. Army contract Colt Model 1892 D.A. revolver manufactured in 1892. The revolver has the Colt high polish blue finish on the barrel, cylinder and frame. The trigger and top of the hammer have a fire blue finish and the sides of the hammer are polished bright. The ejector rod has a casehardened finish. The two-piece grips are plain walnut. The revolver butt is roll-stamped "U.S./ARMY/MODEL/1892/No. 7222" in five lines. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the early, two-line legend that consists of the Hartford address and 1884 and 1888 patent dates. The caliber designation "COLT D.A. 38" is roll-stamped on the left side of the barrel. The "R.A.C." sub-inspection mark of Ordnance inspector Rinaldo A. Carr is stamped on the left rear of the frame, rear face of the cylinder, and the underside of the barrel. A "P" proof mark is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder and "K" Colt sub-inspection marks are stamped on the cylinder latch and frame. The lower left side of the grip is stamped with the faintly visible date "1892" above an illegible script Ordnance final inspection mark. Traces of the script "RAC" sub-inspection mark are visible on the lower right side of the grip. The serial number, "7222" is stamped on the cylinder latch, inside of the frame, inside of the crane and on the bottom of the barrel. "1992" is penciled on the inside of each grip. The revolver is complete with a russet leather .38 D.A. holster with "U.S." embossed body. The back of the holster is stamped "ROCK ISLAND/ARSENAL/1905". The holster flap is stamped with a barely legible unit marking and rack number. The Colt Model 1892 D.A. was adopted by the Army to replace the Colt Single Action Cavalry Model revolver. The early Model 1892 D.A. revolvers were the standard U.S. arm sidearm during the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection until the need for a harder hitting cartridge than the .38 Colt led to the re-introduction of the .45 Colt Single Action Artillery Model revolvers and the development of the Colt Model 1911 Automatic pistol.

Very fine. The revolver retains 85% of the original blue finish. The blue finish on the back strap and butt is thin and there is some minor edge wear and small patches of surface dis-coloration on the right side of the frame. The grips are in very good overall condition with moderate handling wear. The markings on the barrel frame and cylinder are crisp. The action is tight and functions well. The holster is in good overall condition with moderate handling wear. The belt loop has been re-riveted to the holster body; the repair is contemporary to the holster. Most of the Army Model 1892 D.A. revolvers saw hard service and many were overhauled and re-issued during WWI. Original examples in very good condition are scarce. This is a very fine example of a hard to find, early production, U.S. Army Colt Model 1892 D.A. revolver.