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LOT 3163
Historic Documented New York Militia
Ainsworth Inspected U.S. Colt Cavalry
Model Single Action Army Revolver with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 4433, 45 Long Colt
cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut grips. This desirable early
production U.S. contract Cavalry Model Colt
Single Action Army was manufactured in 1874
and sub-inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth,
and falls within the 3421-4499 serial range
of the 1,000 Cavalry Models in lot four
reportedly shipped to Rock Island Arsenal,
Illinois, on January 31, 1874, and issued to
the 2nd Cavalry, per page 238 of “Colt Cavalry
& Artillery Revolvers...a Continuing Study”
(Published 1994) by Kopec and Fenn. On page
28 of the aforementioned book, this specific
revolver is listed by its serial number, 4433, as
being one of the Ainsworth New York Militia
Revolvers, which the authors state, “There are
a total of 142 New York Militia revolvers within
the block of revolvers we call the Ainsworth
Cavalry revolvers.” The authors further state,
“Most have not yet been discovered, while
several subsequently were remodeled into
Artillery revolvers.” This makes this already
highly desirable Ainsworth Colt Cavalry
Single Action Army even more desirable. An
accompanying factory letter turns up a later
record indicating this revolver was shipped
as part of a 200 gun shipment on October
18, 1895, to the U.S. Government Inspector
located at the Colt plant, in .45 caliber, blue
finish, with barrel length and type of grips not
listed, and the letter further states, “The original
records pertaining to this revolver were lost
or destroyed many years ago. However, our
records do indicate the return of this revolver
for refurbishing and subsequent reshipment
as noted above. The refurbishing consisted of
replacement of worn parts, exterior refinishing
and reassembly. The barrels on these revolvers
were not shortened.” These early revolvers were
used throughout the Indian Wars, with this
example seeing continued use after 1895 still
in cavalry configuration. The 7 1/2 inch barrel
has a blade front sight, italic “+ COLT’S PT. F. A.
MFG. Co. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.+” address on
top correctly with die breaks in the small “o” in
“Co.” and “A” in Hartford markings, and a small
“P” on bottom ahead of the cylinder pin, with
the “P” also on the cylinder, with a “bullseye”
ejector rod head. The early two-line, two-date
patent marking followed by “U. S.” is marked
on the left side of the frame. Ainsworth’s small
“A” inspector mark is marked on the cylinder,
trigger guard, and backstrap. Matching visible
serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard,
cylinder, and butt. “A/204” stamped on the left
of the grip, with a period inscribed fancy script
font name that starts with a “D” and last name
initial “M.” on the iron butt section, with part
of the inscription covered by a period added
lanyard ring.