| Description |
.45 Colt, revolver, s/n 54805, brl length 5 1/8", single, very good condition, Letter of authentication from John A. Kopec states the following: Feb. 7, 2018, To Whom It May Concern:
Your Colt U.S. Cavalry revolver has been presented to our office for analysis and authentication. This revolver #54805 was a new listing to our survey and falls between #54796 (a Cavalry Revolver) and #54809 (a condemned revolver) in this data-base. This revolver was manufactured during 1880 (circa March 25th) and was ordnance inspected by Lieut. David A. Lyle. The Ordnance Sub-Inspector during the entire 1880's period was David F. Clark and his distinct initials "DFC" may be observed on the frame, cylinder and barrel of this revolver.
Historically, we could not locate this revolver's serial number in the National Archives records available to us. The nearest referenced revolver to the subject revolver's serial number is #54192, a revolver that had been issued to "Troop L, 7th Cavalry" as of March 14, 1888.
Because this revolver remains today in its basic Cavalry configuration (all matching serial numbers), indicates that it had escaped the Ordnance Department's recall of 1893 and therefore had not been altered into the Artillery configuration during the Spanish-American War era.
About half of all the Cavalry revolvers manufactured had been issued to the state militia regiments. These revolvers escaped this Ordnance recall of 1893 because of being stored at one of the state armories. These militia revolvers were subsequently returned to the National Armory (Springfield) and disposed as surplus as early as 1912.
During 1881, the year after our subject revolver had been manufactured there were 1112 revolvers issued to the states. The State of Ohio had been issued 600 of this total and the State of Michigan was issued 350 revolvers that year. So, there is a very good chance that our subject revolver #54805 had also been issued to one of these two states during 1881.
During our examination of this Cavalry revolver we have noted that the barrel has been rolled with the ageing 1878 style address, showing the two little lines under the letter "o" in the abbreviation "Co." This barrel roll-die was soon retired and superseded with the standard 1880's style that was then continued to be used throughout the 1880's production period.
We have also observed that his revolver has sustained some modification since being released by the Ordnance Department. These modification include:
1. The barrel has been privately shortened to the 5 1/8 inch length and the front sight repositioned.
2. The grips have been sanded undersized and refinished with varnish.
3. All original finish was removed from this revolver. All surfaces sustained buffing leaving the screw holes "dished" and the corners frame rounded. The revolver now sports a "gun-metal" finish throughout.
4. This revolver has been fitted with a modern manufactured replacement mainspring.
5. The notches of the hammer have sustained damage, and subsequently re-cut in an incorrect position, leaving this revolver with a manipulation shortfall.
We trust that the foregoing information will be found to be of interest.
Respectfully,
John A. Kopec
c JKopec 2018
End of Letter
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