This U.S. contract Colt Single Action Army comes a letter of authentication from noted Colt SAA authority John A. Kopec. Kopec noted, "This revolver #120162 was previously (Colt records) listed in our survey and falls between #120160 (an 1896 Artillery) and #120163 (an Artillery revolver) in this data-base...Because our subject revolver #120162 remains today in its basic Cavalry configuration assures us that it had actually served with a Cavalry unit prior to being recalled by the Ordnance Department." As Kopec noted in the letter, the revolver was manufactured in 1887, was returned to the Colt factory to be refurbished for the State of New York, and left the Colt factory for a second time on October 13, 1895. "Then during 1895," continued Kopec, "a large lot of 2,000 of these former Cavalry revolvers were returned to the Colt factory to be refurbished. The initial group of 800 revolvers were especially processed for the State of New York. Their barrels were not shortened and all serial numbers were kept matching." Other observations Kopec made about this revolver include: the 1920s-1930s factory period commercial replacement hammer (factory rework mark visible on right rear side of trigger guard bow), ejector assembly changed during the 1895 factory refurbishing, correct grip which was refinished during the 1895 refurbishing, and modern replacement mainspring. The Ordnance-Sub-Inspector during the entire 1880s period was David F. Clark, and his initials "DFC" (faint) are found on the underside of the frame, underside of the barrel and side of the cylinder. A small U.S. Ordnance "P" is stamped on the underside of the barrel. Matching full serial number "120162" appears on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, and barrel. These 1895 militia destined Cavalry Models above serial number 10,000 were stamped at the Colt factory with the missing prefixed serial number digit or digits ahead of the existing four digit serial numbers on the barrel and cylinder. The barrel and cylinder on this example are correctly marked with the full matching serial number. The top of the barrel has the one-line Hartford address. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking followed by "US." Includes a leather flap holster lacking visible markings.

Fine as refurbished by the Colt factory in 1895. The barrel and ejector rod housing retain 60% of the blue finish, the cylinder retains 30% of the blue finish, and the grip straps retain 20% of the blue finish in the sheltered areas with a smooth gray patina on the balance overall. The later production replacement hammer retains 90% of the strong case colors. The frame retains traces of case colors in the sheltered areas. The Colt factory refinished grip is fine with a few minor handling marks. Mechanically functions but needs adjustment. The holster is good with replacement stitching. A solid example of a John Kopec identified U.S. Cavalry Model/New York Militia Colt SAA Revolver.