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Exceptional 1875 Production A.P. Casey Sub-Inspected Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army Revolver with John Kopec Gold Seal Letter - Serial no. 17018, 45 Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This virtually unused U.S. Contract Colt Cavalry Model Single Action revolver was manufactured in 1875. Nearly all of the Cavalry Model Single Action revolvers manufactured in 1875 were issued to U.S. Cavalry regiments on the frontier. The serial number of this revolver falls between the serial numbers of two revolvers issued to cavalry regiments: Serial No. 17004 was used by the Troop C, 5th Cavalry Regiment in 1886, and Serial No. 17128 was issued to Troop F, 7th Cavalry Regiment in 1888. The revolver has a military blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, hammer and loading gate are color casehardened, and the one-piece walnut grip is oil-finished. The revolver has the early “bullseye” ejector rod head, first style ejector housing with barrel boss and “cavalry” hammer with bordered elongated knurling on the spur and cone-shaped firing pin. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the first style, “script” barrel address “+ COLT”S PT. F.A. MFG.
Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. +” with slanted crosses at either end. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt, “two-date/two-line” patent marking followed by a small “U.S.” property mark. The assembly number “807” is
stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The small “C” sub-inspection mark used by A. P. Casey is stamped below the serial number on the trigger guard and on the right heel of the grip. A second “J” Ordnance sub-inspection mark is stamped on the underside of the barrel and on the side of the cylinder. Dual inspected Cavalry Model revolvers like this example are very scarce. A “P” proof mark is stamped on the underside of the barrel below the sub-inspection mark and on the side of the cylinder. Colt “G” and “C” inspection marks are stamped below the ejector housing barrel boss. “C” is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder and in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The full serial number is stamped on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number “7018” is stamped on the barrel beneath the ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. The lower left side of the grip is stamped with the script initials “ACP” in a
rectangle with rounded ends.
In 2014 noted Colt historian and author John Kopec examined this Cavalry Model revolver, and his gold seal letter of authentication is included. The revolver was a new listing in the survey and fell between nos. 17015 (Artillery Model) and 17022 (New York Militia revolver) in the database. Although this revolver’s serial number was not found in the National Archives, several other 7th Cavalry re-issues are found in this serial number range including nos. 16850, 17403, 17432, 17492, 17586, and 17647. At this time new recruits were assigned as replacements for the men lost at the Little Bighorn. These new recruits were known as “Custer Avengers.” The cartouche is double struck; however, Kopec deemed the stamping to be “totally correct.” Kopec noted the “outstanding condition of this revolver remains noteworthy when we consider that the Indian Wars were still being fought...This revolver remains in as perfect original condition as any collector would ever hope to find.”