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Historic 7th Cavalry Serial Number Range, Ainsworth Inspected Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Revol

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:NA
Historic 7th Cavalry Serial Number Range, Ainsworth Inspected Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Revol
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Estimate: $30000 - 50000
Colt Cavalry Model Single Action revolver manufactured in 1874. The 7th Cavalry was issued 755 Colt Single Action Army revolvers in June 1874. Experts believe that some 300 of these revolvers were from Colt Production Lot Six which consisted of revolvers with serial numbers from 505-6516. Colt Single Action revolvers with documented 7th Cavalry history or Little Bighorn battle association include serial numbers 5505, 5637, 5740, 5743, 5773, 6048, 6067, 6269, and 6405. This revolver, serial number 5607, is in the range of known 7th Cavalry/Battle of Little Bighorn Single Action revolvers. The revolver has a blue barrel, trigger guard, cylinder and back strap and casehardened frame, loading gate and hammer. The one-piece grips are oil-finished black walnut. The revolver has all of the distinctive features of the early production, Ainsworth-inspected Cavalry Model Single Actions. These features include a 'bullseye' ejector rod head, first style ejector housing with barrel boss, early style cylinder with small bolt stops and cavalry style hammer with elongated knurling on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the first style "script" address: "+COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.+" with slanted crosses at either end of the address. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with "PAT.SEPT.19.1871/PAT.JULY. 2. 1872" in two lines followed by a small "U.S." property mark. The small "A" inspection mark of Ordnance Sub-Inspector Orville W. Ainsworth is stamped on the underside of the barrel, on the trigger guard below the serial number, on the top of the back strap behind the hammer cut-out, on the side of the cylinder and on the left stock heel. A small "P" proof mark is stamped on the underside of the barrel above the "A" sub-inspection mark and on the side of the cylinder. A "C" Colt inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well above the firing pin hole and the inside of the loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "893". The serial number, "5607" is stamped on the barrel beneath the ejector housing, on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap and on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. Traces of the Ordnance final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "OWA" in a rectangle with rounded corners are visible on the lower left side of the stock. The revolver is complete with a Civil War production, black leather, full flap holster for army-size percussion revolvers. This is the type of holster that would have been utilized by the 7th Cavalry with the Colt Single Action revolvers at the Battle of Little Bighorn in June, 1876.
BBL: 7 1/2 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 45 LC
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 5607
Condition: Fine. The revolver is all original and is in outstanding condition for a 1874 production, Ainsworth-inspected, Cavalry Model Single Action. The barrel retains nearly 40% of the original military blue finish in protected areas. Much of the blue is present on protected areas of the ejector housing. The trigger guard, back strap and cylinder have a gray-brown patina; considerable blue finish is present on protected areas of the trigger guard. There is some light flash pitting on the forward edges of the cylinder. The trigger has 30% of the niter blue finish. The sight groove, lower portions of the frame and recoil shield and sides of the hammer show significant amounts of the original case colors. The frame, grip and trigger guard screws are all in very fine condition with no significant screw-driver marks. The walnut grip is also in fine condition with visible OWA Ordnance inspection mark on the lower left side and sharp "A" on the left heel. The grip has scattered, light scratches and handling marks on the sides and right heel and several shallow dents on the left heel. The barrel legend, patent and U.S. property mark, Ainsworth sub-inspection marks and serial numbers are all sharp. The action is crisp and functions perfectly. The holster is in fair condition; the toe plug is missing and the toe has been sewn closed. There is scattered age cracking on the holster body and the leather is flaking on the flap, latch tab and belt loop. This is an outstanding Ainsworth-Inspected Colt Cavalry Model Single Action revolver that is solidly within the serial number range of Single Action revolvers issued to the 7th Cavalry and carried at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.