Colt Single Action Army U.S. Cavalry Model, First Generation, .45 Colt, 7.5 in Barrel (1882)
This U.S.-marked First Generation Colt Single Action Army is a documented Cavalry-configuration revolver from 1882 in .45 Colt. It features the black-powder frame with a screw-retained cylinder base pin, an early round bullseye/mushroom ejector rod head, and fixed sights. A Colt Archive letter confirms sale to the United States Government, with delivery to a U.S. Government Inspector at the Colt plant on November 8, 1882.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The revolver presents widespread finish patina and wear consistent with its age, with visible scratching and blemishing. The action is tight, and the hammer drops with notable force. The bore shows some blemishing while retaining defined rifling.
What’s Included
- Colt Archive letter documenting sale to the United States Government (dated September 28, 2026)
This revolver retains the classic Cavalry configuration with a 7.5 in barrel, six-shot fluted cylinder, and fixed sights. It has the one-line Hartford barrel address and the three-line 1871/72/75 patent dates on the frame, aligning with early production features prized by historians and collectors.
It bears U.S. property markings and D.E.C. inspector initials. Serial numbers match on the frame, trigger guard, and butt, with the last three digits "951" observed on the cylinder. The hammer is observed stamped "6265."
The Colt Archive letter documents U.S. Government procurement and delivery to a U.S. Government Inspector at the Colt plant on November 8, 1882, as part of a 100-gun shipment. A secondary listing notes a revolver of the same configuration shipped to Hartley & Graham, New York, on April 7, 1883.
Construction details include a color casehardened steel frame with blue finish, a blued steel cylinder, and one-piece walnut grips. It is a single-action-only revolver chambered in .45 Colt with a capacity of six rounds, built in the United States during the 1880s.