Make: Colt

Model: 1873 Cavalry

Serial Number: 115868

Year of Manufacture: 1885

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate

Barrel Length: 7 1/2"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a "V" groove in the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth walnut. The bottom to the right of the strap is marked "R.A.C." and there are stampings on the sides which are presumably applied by the NY State Militia. The interior of the backstrap inlet has "115868" hand-written. The grip has even handling wear with scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grip is in about Fine condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue and Case Color

Finish Originality: Factory Refurbished, numbered parts match.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is some light erosion and infrequent minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7+/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is handling wear in the grip areas. The frame has generally strong case color with a little muting on the flats. There is light wear along the ejector housing and on the barrel at the muzzle end. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable along the ejector housing, the left of the barrel, and around the outside of the cylinder. There is infrequent minor oxidation. The action shows operational wear including turn-wear on the cylinder. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete, notably the frame's "D.F.C" inspection is incomplete. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. Overall, this revolver is in Excellent condition as factory refurbished Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: Colt's Single Action Army is, perhaps more than any other, an iconic American pistol. It was the US issue sidearm for the last two decades of the 19th century, used by pioneers, outlaws and lawmen across the expanding nation, captivated audiences on the silver screen and television and still does today. This US Cavalry model is from 1885 and is a fascinating piece from the history of the 1873 Model.

With the issuing of the new swing-out cylinder .38 caliber Colt revolvers, all 1873 models were called in by the Ordnance Department and a refurbishment program started with revolvers sent back to the Colt factory to be refinished and have worn or damaged parts replaced. This program is most associated with "Artillery" Single Action Army revolvers which had their barrels shortened to 5 1/2". Colt's refurbishment would mark any replaced parts with the frame's full serial number while arsenal altered revolvers frequently had mixed numbered parts. The alteration was initiated after the refurbishment program had already started, with 800 revolvers refurbished but left with a 7 1/2" barrel, all delivered in October, 1895. It was not until the next month that "re-modeled" revolvers with shortened barrels were delivered. This example is from the group that were refurbished at the Colt factory and returned with the original 7 1/2" barrel length.

These first 800 revolvers were refinished specifically for issue to the NY State Militia, which spared them from being later altered by an Arsenal, and this specific serial number is noted by John Kopec and H. Sterling Fenn in their work on Cavalry and Artillery revolvers. It is possible that this was where the backstrap was fit with its installed lanyard loop. For students and collectors of the Single Action Army, especially Cavalry models, this is a rare and wonderful find. Its documentation, condition, and scarcity means it will take a prized place in even advanced collections. Please see our photos and good luck!