This incredible U.S. contract Colt Single Action Army has defied the odds and survived nearly a century and a half in excellent condition and certainly is in the top 1% of Colt Cavalry Model revolvers. Noted Colt Single Action authority John A. Kopec gave this revolver his gold seal with ribbon in the included authentication letter. The gold seal represents "a revolver which is found to be authentic in every respect, regardless of the percent of original finish remaining...This revolver is one which the writer feels would qualify being in his own personal collection: one for which 'no excuses' would ever be required. Few surviving examples will qualify for this distinction." The very rarely awarded ribbons represent an even higher grade, the best of the best. In the letter he writes that, "Historically, there would be no point to attempt to pin-point an area of service for this revolver because it is this writer's opinion that this revolver had never been issued, but was in fact sold directly to a private individual as surplus from the Springfield Armory during the 1920s. During the past 102 years this revolver has been protected and never fired by some very thoughtful individuals." He also notes that it falls between 119054 and 119064 in their database and was manufactured in January of 1887 and shipped c. January 18, 1887. It was inspected by Captain John G. Butler. "His prominent un-circled initials appear on the left grip panel and remain in perfect condition under the year-date '1887'. The Ordnance-Sub-Inspector during the entire 1880s period was David F. Clark. His cartouche is located on the lower right grip and his initials 'DFC' may be found on the frame, barrel, cylinder and left butt of this fine revolver." Kopec notes that this revolver was not dismantled in any way nor cocked during the examination because of the extraordinary high condition of this revolver. This U.S. contract "Cavalry Model" revolver is one of the earliest inspected by Butler given other known examples and the range estimated in "Colt Cavalry and Artillery Revolvers... a Continuing Study" by Kopec and Fenn. The authors in the former text also note that only Butler used an acceptance stamp without a border, and Kopec calls the exceptional cartouche on this revolver "text-book" in his letter. Given the revolver escaped being altered to "Artillery" configuration and remains in exceptionally high condition, it was likely issued to a state militia/national guard unit or stowed away somewhere at Springfield Armory and remained safely confined for many years. As Kopec noted, it appears to have remained unfired since leaving the factory. The barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap have the Colt military blue finish. The screws and trigger are a fiery niter blue. The frame, hammer and loading gate are color casehardened. The one-piece walnut grip is oil finished. The revolver has the later smaller "dished" ejector rod button, and the early "black powder" frame with a screw securing the arbor pin. The "U.S." property mark is stamped on the left side of the frame behind the three-line, three-date patent marking. A small block "D.F.C." sub-inspection mark is stamped on the underside of the barrel, bottom of the frame above the serial number, side of the cylinder, and on the left side of the grip on the butt. "P" proofmarks are stamped on the underside of the barrel and side of the cylinder. The lower left side of the grip is stamped with the year "1887" above the script "JGB" final inspection mark. The lower right side of the grip is stamped with the script "DFC" sub-inspector's mark. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." in one line. The assembly number "97" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The full serial number is visible on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The partial serial number "9063" is stamped on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. Given the exceptional condition of the revolver, including the screws, we did not risk disassembling the revolver to inspect the barrel under the ejector housing or the grip under the grip strap, but we would expect to find matching numbers in these hidden areas.