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"The cartouche of the Sub-Inspector O.W. Ainsworth
remains in outstanding condition on the left grip panel." - Author and historian John A. Kopec,
from the included Gold Seal Kopec letter
LOT 1092
Exceptional Historic Documented Ainsworth Inspected Lot 8 U.S. Cavalry Model Colt Single Action Army Revolver Attributed to the 8th U.S. Cavalry and General Thomas W. Bennett with Kopec Gold Seal Letter - Serial no. 8554, 45 Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This is a rare and high condition early Colt Single Action Army revolver from 1874 in the highly desirable original Cavalry Model configuration. In his included gold seal letter from June 19, 2023, Colt Single Action Army authority John A. Kopec notes that this revolver was new to his survey
and fell directly between Cavalry Model 8553 and Artillery Model 8555 in his database. This revolver was manufactured in 1874 and was part of the “Lot Eight” revolvers (7528- 8652) sub-inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth whose “cartouche remains in excellent condition (As new!) on the left grip panel” as noted by Kopec. This lot was shipped to the government on March 14, 1874, and some of them went to the 8th Cavalry, including 8557, per National Archive records, and this revolver may have been issued in the third quarter of 1874. Kopec notes that 15 Cavalry revolvers in the 8500 range are known and thus they somehow avoided the 1893 Ordnance Department recall.
The revolver has a blade front sight, the “+COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.+” barrel address with breaks in the “o” in “Co.” and the “A” in “HARTFORD,”“PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871/PAT. JULY.2.1872” and “U.S.” on the left side of the frame, “P” and “A” on
the cylinder and underside of the barrel ahead of the cylinder pin, additional “A” sub- inspection marks on the front of the trigger guard and back strap behind the hammer, “C” between the notch rear sight and firing pin hole in the hammer well, all matching visible serial numbers, assembly number “533” on the loading gate, a distinct “OWA” script cartouche on the left side of the grip, and another “A” sub-inspection mark on the lower left of the grip. Kopec’s additional findings concerning the revolver include: That
it has the “old style” mainspring believed to be a carry-over from the Model 1860 Army production and does not have a hammer roller guide. The grips are matching numbered in the backstrap channel and have the early pointed grip spacer. The cartouche remains in outstanding condition. The “feathering” remains in fine condition by the front sight. The serial number on the barrel is stamped higher than normal leaving it visible at the edge of the ejector tube, a variation noted on some others in this range, and the “8” is stamped inverted on the barrel and cylinder which is also known on sn. 8553.
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