These Colt "Artillery Model" Single Action Army revolvers were brought back into service during the Spanish-American War, Filipino-American War, and Moro Rebellion. Though nicknamed "Artillery Models", they were actually issued to a variety of U.S. Army units and particularly known to have been favored for use against the Moro warriors who were known to continue fighting after being shot with the weaker .38 caliber Colt double action revolvers also in use. The revolver has mixed numbers and components typical of the Artillery variants. The "JTC" inspected frame comes with a serial number stating the holster revolver was sold to the U.S. Government, delivered to the U.S. inspector at the Colt plant on December 1876, returned to the factory for Artillery Model refurbishment and reshipped to the Springfield Armory on December 21, 1901. The trigger guard ("120901") and the back strap ("120306") date to 1887. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates followed by "U.S." The underside of the barrel is stamped with the inspector initials "RAC" and has a "P" proof. The cylinder has a "P" proof and the inspector initials "DFC". The grip as a script letter cartouche on both sides, the date "1901" on the left side, and "RAC" on the left bottom.
Fine as factory refurbished/refinished, retaining 60% of the blue finish with patches of light pitting on topstrap, thinning to brown on the balance. The hammer and frame retain 30% case colors in and around the protected areas. The sanded and undersize refinished grip is very good with faint cartouches and a few handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
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