Original Item: Only One Available. This is an exceptional and highly evocative U.S. military Colt Single Action Army revolver manufactured in 1876, factory documented as one of 100 .45-caliber revolvers shipped to the United States Government, and accompanied by a period U.S. military belt and an original Model 1881 cavalry holster.

The revolver retains its correct 7 1/2-inch Cavalry Model barrel, matching frame and barrel serial numbers, large U.S. acceptance marking, and the scarce J.T.C. inspection initials of Ordnance sub-inspector John T. Cleveland.

Later U.S. arsenal work introduced several mismatched military components, giving this revolver the fascinating configuration expected of a sidearm that remained in government service long enough to be repaired, rebuilt, and returned to issue.

The complete rig has tremendous visual appeal and represents one of the most recognizable combinations of firearm and equipment from the Indian Wars and early American frontier period.

Factory Documentation

The revolver is accompanied by an original Colt factory letter dated October 28, 1996. The letter was issued by the Office of the Colt Historian and is signed by Kathleen J. Hoyt. It retains the correct Colt letterhead and raised seal. The factory record identifies the revolver as: COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. The listed caliber is: .45/C. The original finish is recorded as: BLUE. The barrel length and stock material are not listed in the surviving factory record. However, the standard U.S. military configuration at the time was a 7 1/2-inch barrel with a one-piece walnut grip, matching the configuration retained by this revolver. The letter records that the revolver was sold to the United States Government and shipped on October 28, 1876. It was included in a shipment of 100 revolvers of the same type sent to the U.S. Government inspector stationed at the Colt factory. This factory documentation is exactly what collectors hope to find with a genuine U.S. Cavalry Model Single Action Army.

Serial Numbers and Inspection Marks

The frame is marked:

31311

Colt serial-number records date this revolver to 1876, during the early years of U.S. military Single Action Army production.

The underside of the barrel, beneath the ejector housing, is marked with the abbreviated serial number:

1311

This confirms that the barrel matches the frame.

Both the frame and barrel bear the inspection initials:

J.T.C.

These initials identify U.S. Ordnance sub-inspector John T. Cleveland, who inspected Colt revolvers during a relatively brief period beginning in 1876. Cleveland took over inspection duties on a U.S. contract for approximately 2,000 revolvers, making correctly marked examples particularly desirable among advanced military Colt collectors.

The cylinder is numbered:

7226

The trigger guard is numbered:

17569

The backstrap is numbered:

30727

The grip is marked:

3640

The first digit could alternatively be read as an 8 because of wear.

The loading gate bears assembly number:

4543

These mixed numbers are consistent with later U.S. arsenal refurbishment, when serviceable components from multiple military revolvers were combined without concern for preserving their original serial-number relationships.

The Ordnance Department’s priority was maintaining functional military sidearms, not preserving matching collector examples. Period arsenal rebuild programs are well known for producing military Single Action Army revolvers assembled from mixed but serviceable components.

Unlike the familiar 5 1/2-inch arsenal-reworked revolvers commonly called Artillery Models, this example retains its full-length matching 7 1/2-inch barrel.

U.S. Military Markings

The left side of the frame carries the large: U.S.

Surcharge or acceptance marking, confirming government ownership and military acceptance. The left side also retains the early two-line Colt patent marking:

PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871.
PAT. JULY. 2. 1872.

This is the correct early marking used before the later addition of the Colt horse emblem to the frame. The top of the barrel retains the original one-line Colt address:

COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.

The marking remains fully legible.

Additional single-letter inspection and proof marks are present on various components.

There is no visible caliber marking on the trigger guard. The barrel and cylinder have been checked using appropriate cartridges and are confirmed to be chambered for .45 Colt.

The Colt Single Action Army

The Single Action Army was developed specifically in response to U.S. Government requirements for a durable metallic-cartridge service revolver.

Adopted by the Army in 1873, it became the standard mounted-service sidearm and was issued extensively to cavalry troops operating throughout the American West.

Colt ultimately delivered more than 30,000 Single Action Army revolvers to the U.S. Government between 1873 and 1891.

The 7 1/2-inch-barreled military configuration became known among collectors as the Cavalry Model.

Its combination of strength, simplicity, power, and reliability made the design equally popular with soldiers, lawmen, ranchers, travelers, and civilians. The revolver became one of the defining firearms of the Indian Wars and American frontier period.

This example was manufactured only several months after the Battle of the Little Bighorn, at a time when U.S. cavalry units were actively campaigning across the Plains and Southwest.

No documentation connects this particular revolver to a specific regiment, campaign, soldier, or engagement. Its U.S. markings and factory letter nevertheless establish its authentic government issue.

Finish and Exterior Condition

The revolver displays an exceptionally attractive, honest service-worn appearance.

The steel surfaces have aged to a smooth mixture of gray, brown, and dark patina, with scattered areas of light peppering and minor oxidation.

There is no indication of excessive polishing or modern refinishing.

The revolver has the appearance collectors hope to find on a genuine military Colt that saw decades of use, maintenance, and handling.

The brass trigger guard and backstrap retain an attractive aged coloration.

The one-piece walnut grip shows substantial military use and later cleaning.

The front toe on the left side is chipped, and the grip has developed a rounded profile from long handling, wear, and loss of wood.

Despite this wear, the grip remains solid and complements the revolver’s overall appearance beautifully.

Mechanical Condition

Mechanically, the revolver is exceptionally strong for its age.

The action is smooth and produces all four traditional clicks when the hammer is drawn rearward.

The cylinder indexes correctly and locks securely with very little mechanical movement.

The trigger releases crisply, and the revolver dry fires properly.

The loading gate opens easily, and the ejector rod operates correctly.

The action should still be cycled gently due to the revolver’s age. Fanning or forceful rapid cocking is not recommended.

The bore is in excellent condition for a military black-powder revolver of this period.

It retains a mostly bright surface with strong, clearly defined lands and grooves.

There is minor wear, old fouling, and scattered evidence of past oxidation, but the bore is considerably better than typically encountered on heavily used U.S. Cavalry revolvers.

The strong bore may have been one reason the barrel was retained during arsenal refurbishment.

Period U.S. Military Belt

The revolver is accompanied by a period U.S. military leather belt measuring approximately 28 1/2 inches in its current configuration.

The belt retains the correct U.S.-marked military buckle.

The leather shows extensive service wear, age, finish loss, cracking, flaking, and surface deterioration.

The original black or very dark brown finish has worn away across numerous areas, leaving the aged leather visible beneath.

The belt remains highly displayable and provides the correct military foundation for the revolver and holster.

Model 1881 Cavalry Holster

The accompanying leather holster is an original U.S. Model 1881 pattern.

The reverse is faintly maker marked:

LANZ, OWEN & CO.
CHICAGO

The Model 1881 holster was designed to carry either the Colt Single Action Army with its 7 1/2-inch barrel or the Smith & Wesson Schofield revolver.

Two fastening holes were incorporated into the flap so it could be adjusted to fit the two different revolver designs.

This versatile arrangement made the holster suitable for an Army that still had both revolver types in circulation.

The flap has torn in the vulnerable area around its two adjustment holes and was glued back together at some point.

The repair is visible and fully disclosed.

The leather shows the expected age, flaking finish, creasing, cracking, and service wear associated with an original Indian Wars-era military holster.

Despite its condition, the holster remains a highly desirable original example and displays extremely well with the revolver.

A Complete Indian Wars Cavalry Display

Original U.S. Cavalry Single Action Army revolvers are among the most desirable American military handguns.

Examples retaining factory documentation, visible inspection marks, a matching frame and full-length barrel, and accompanying military leather equipment are increasingly difficult to obtain.

The mixed serial numbers should not be viewed as random civilian replacement parts. They are evidence of the revolver’s continued military life and arsenal refurbishment, when usable U.S.-inspected components were combined to return revolvers to service.

The scarce J.T.C. marks, factory-confirmed government shipment, early 1876 manufacture, full 7 1/2-inch barrel, powerful mechanical condition, excellent bore, period U.S. belt, and Lanz, Owen & Co. M1881 holster combine into a remarkable frontier military rig.

A superb U.S. Cavalry Colt grouping with the appearance, documentation, and arsenal history to become a centerpiece in an advanced collection of Indian Wars arms, early Colt revolvers, or American military equipment.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company
Model: Single Action Army, U.S. Cavalry Model
Serial Number: 31311
Year of Manufacture: 1876
Factory Shipment Date: October 28, 1876
Factory Recipient: United States Government Inspector at the Colt Factory
Shipment Quantity: 100 Revolvers
Caliber: .45 Colt
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 7 1/2"
Overall Length: Approximately 13"
Action: Single Action
Capacity: Six Rounds
Frame and Barrel Inspector: J.T.C., John T. Cleveland
Frame Serial Number: 31311
Barrel Serial Number: 1311
Cylinder Serial Number: 7226
Trigger Guard Serial Number: 17569
Backstrap Serial Number: 30727
Grip Number: 3640 or 8640
Loading Gate Assembly Number: 4543

History of the Colt Single Single Action Army

Bound by the Rollin White patent (#12,648, April 3, 1855) and not wanting to pay a royalty fee to Smith & Wesson, Colt could not begin development of bored-through revolver cylinders for metallic cartridge use until April 4, 1869. For the design, Colt turned to two of its best engineers: William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards who had developed a number of revolvers and black powder conversions for the company. Their effort was designed for the United States government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and adopted as the standard military service revolver. Production began in 1873 with the Single Action Army model 1873, also referred to as the "New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol".

The very first production Single Action Army, serial number 1, thought lost for many years after its production, was found in a barn in Nashua, New Hampshire in the early 1900s. It was chambered in .45 Colt, a centerfire design containing charges of up to 40 grains (2.6 g) of fine-grained black powder and a 255-grain (16.5 g) blunt roundnosed bullet. Relative to period cartridges and most later handgun rounds, it was quite powerful in its full loading.

The Colt Single Action Army revolver, along with the 1870 and 1875 Smith & Wesson Model 3 "Schofield" revolver, replaced the Colt 1860 Army Percussion revolver. The Colt quickly gained favor over the S&W and remained the primary US military sidearm until 1892 when it was replaced by the .38 Long Colt caliber Colt Model 1892, a double-action revolver with swing-out cylinder. By the end of 1874, serial no. 16,000 was reached; 12,500 Colt Single Action Army revolvers chambered for the .45 Colt cartridge had entered service and the remaining revolvers were sold in the civilian market.

The Colt .45 is a famous piece of American history, known as "The Gun That Won the West". The Single Action army is a very popular firearm, even today, and it continues to be produced in various configurations.

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