Make: Colt

Model: 1873 Cavalry Model Single Action Army

Serial Number: 61598

Year of Manufacture: 1880

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: 6-Shot Single Action Revolver with Side Gate Loaded Cylinder

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 left of the strap is marked "R.A.C." for Ordnance inspector Rinaldo A. Carr. The grip has minor handling wear with a few nicks, mostly on the bottom. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grip is in Fine-Excellent condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & 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. Much of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas. The frame has generally strong case color with some muting on the flats. There is light wear along the ejector housing and on the left of the barrel toward the muzzle end. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with some minor oxidation. There is infrequent surface erosion, mostly on the front face of the cylinder. 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 and the trigger guard serial marking was re-applied during refurbishment. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. Overall, this revolver is in Excellent condition as 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: This revolver comes with a Colt Archives letter which confirms it was shipped December 23, 1880 to the United States Government in a shipment of 150 revolvers. Colt's records further indicate that the revolver was returned to the factory for refurbishing, delivered again to the United States Government on October 4, 1895.

Our Assessment: Colt's Single Action Army is, perhaps more than any other, an iconic American pistol. It was the U.S. issue sidearm for the last two decades of the 19th century, used by pioneers, outlaws and lawmen across the expanding nation, and captivated audiences on the silver screen and television (and still does, today). This U.S. Cavalry model is from 1880 and is a fascinating piece from the history of the Cavalry 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 the 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 serial number while arsenal altered revolvers frequently had mixed numbered parts. The alteration was intiated after the refurbishment program had already started, with 800 revolvers in four shipments of 200 refurbished but left with a 7 1/2" barrel, all delivered in October of 1895. It was not until the next month that "re-modeled" revolvers with shortened barrels were delivered. This example is from the first shipment of 200 revolvers, October 4, 1895, 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 New York State Militia, which spared them from being later altered by a US Arsenal. For students and collectors of the Single Action Army, especially the 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!