This U.S. contract Colt Single Action Cavalry Model Revolver was manufactured in 1884 and inspected by Ordnance Sub-Inspector David F. Clark (DFC) and Final Inspector Captain Frank Heath. This revolver is complete with an early production Rock Island Arsenal Pattern 1881 holster manufactured for the Colt Single Action and S&W Schofield revolvers. This revolver has the Colt military blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, hammer and loading gate are color casehardened. The frame screws, cylinder pin and trigger are niter blue. The one-piece walnut grip is oil finished. The revolver has the early "bullseye" ejector rod head and "cavalry style" hammer with elongated, bordered knurling on the spur. The barrel is roll-stamped with the Fourth Style, "Elongated Block" legend: "COLT'S P.T. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.-". The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt "Three-Line/Three-Date" patent marking. The full serial number is located on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "4172" is stamped on the barrel underneath the ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. The assembly number "153" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. Small "G" Colt sub-inspection marks are stamped on the trigger guard and back strap below the serial numbers. Small "P" proof marks are stamped on the underside of the barrel and on the side of the cylinder. The "U.S." property mark is stamped on the left side of the frame behind the Colt patent markings. The "D.F.C." Ordnance sub-inspection mark is stamped on the bottom of the barrel, bottom of the frame above the serial number, side of the cylinder and left grip heel. The left side of the grip is stamped with the date "1884" above the final inspector's encircled script initials "FH". The sub-inspector's script initials "DFC" enclosed in a rectangle with rounded ends are stamped on the lower right side of the grip. The brown leather Pattern 1881 holster has the first style narrow belt loop secured by three brass rivets and flap with two holes for Colt or S&W revolvers. The holster body is embossed with a large "U.S." in an oval. The outside of the holster flap is stamped with the second style marking: "ROCK ISLAND/ARSENAL" within a rectangular border. "D.C.L." and "JMD" final inspection and sub-inspection marks are stamped near the tip of the flap. The inside of the flap is stenciled "S[?]&W" and "C" by the holes. Includes a John Kopec gold-seal letter of authentication, awarded to “a revolver which is found to be authentic in every respect, regardless of the percent of original finish remaining.” As Kopec proclaims in the letter, “This revolver remains today in ‘as new’ condition as one would ever hope to find…Truly a beautiful revolver to behold!” The letter also identifies the holster.

Excellent. The barrel has 95% of the original blue finish with feathered polishing marks on either side of the front sight blade. The Colt legend is crisp, and the serial number, proof and sub-inspector markings are sharp. Wear is limited to some finish loss on the muzzle edge and a tiny spot of light pitting on the lower left side of the barrel just below the muzzle. The ejector housing has nearly all of the blue finish with some minor holster wear on the front edge. The cylinder retains 95% of the blue with some edge wear on the flutes and light turn marks between the stops. The cylinder serial number, proof mark and "D.F.C." mark are crisp. The trigger guard has 90% plus of the blue with some thinning on the grip strap and some wear on the edges of the bow. The feathered polishing marks on either side of the front trigger guard bow are clear. The back strap has 85% of the blue with some slight handling wear and scattered age discoloration. The frame retains 95% of the vivid case colors with sharp serial numbers and inspection marks. The screws and trigger retain most of the nitre blue finish and have clean slots. The walnut grip is in exceptional condition and shows almost no wear. The "1884" date and "FH" final inspection mark are crisp. The "DFC" sub-inspection mark on the right side of the grip is more lightly stamped but remains in exceptional condition. The action functions perfectly. The rare, early production, 1881 Pattern holster is in very fine to excellent condition. The holster has never been oiled or cleaned and has a sharp "US" markings on the body and clear arsenal and sub-inspector markings on the flap. The interior markings on the flap are mostly legible. The holster stitching and seams are tight. Wear is limited to some light flex marks on the top of the flap and finial holes and some scuffing on the contact points of the belt loop and flap edges. This is an excellent example of a completely original, DFC sub-inspected, Indian War Colt Single Action Cavalry Model Revolver with the correct early production Rock Island Arsenal Pattern 1881 holster. This is a great rig that would be a standout in the most advanced Colt or U.S. martial arms collection. Another "fresh to the market", newly discovered U.S. Colt Cavalry Single Action Revolver!