1874 Colt Single Action Army US Cavalry Buy-Back with Documentation

1874 Colt Single Action Army. Documented with Colt's Factory letter dated 2014 which describes the pistol as thus: "Single Action serial number 13721 cal, 45/C Barrel length (not listed) Finish Blue Types of stocks (not listed) SPECIAL NOTATION Gov't Sale Shipped to Schuyler Hartley and Graham New York New York Shipped October 7, 1874 Number of guns 115." The special notation of "Gov't Sale" is identified by noted Colt Single Action expert John Kopec as being a contract over run or rejected gun from a US Government contract which was then offered by Colt to it's retailers or dealer for public offering. Marked with the "U.S." inspection to the rear of the 2 line patent marking with an added Colt factory commercial marking "45 CAL' on the left trigger guard shoulder. The matching number early pattern cylinder without lead in grooves is "a" inspected for "Ainsworth," the US Military inspector. This is an indication that the revolver could have been a militia buy back or perhaps assembled from rejected a US military Cavalry model by Colt prior to commercial sale. The barrel is the early type with ejector rod housing bolster hole but the ejector rod is the later pattern without the stud. Barrel is number 8822 with sub inspection "C" for US inspector "AP Casey." The one piece grip has no markings. The revolver is nickel finished. Finding a documented buy-back Colt single action is a very uncommon and these are truly the earliest civilian Single-Actions to reach the West. Condition is Good with over 20% nickel finish remaining on barrel, Bore is period worn with visible rifling and frosting in the grooves. Frame retains 10% nickel finish in the more protected areas with all markings crisp and legible. The cylinder has approx, 10% nickel in the flutes with serial number and "A" inspection legible. Trigger guard and backstrap retail 5-10% nickel with period wear. The grips are worn but solid with very slight material loss at corners and are tight to the frame. The ejector rod assembly has the retaining screw slot period enlarged for access to the screw. The action operates properly with solid lockup. Included with revolver is factory letter and a number of excerpts from Mr, Kopec's research on the Colt single action buy back revolvers.