Back to Cavalry Form: Restoring an 1885 Colt Single Action Army

A Revolver From the Frontier Army

By 1885, the Colt Model of 1873 Single Action Army had been riding with American soldiers for more than a decade. Its sturdy frame, powerful .45 Colt cartridge and simple operation made it well suited to mounted service across a frontier where dust, distance and hard use were part of everyday life.

This revolver was built during that era in the classic Cavalry configuration, with a 7 1/2-inch barrel and the markings of a U.S. military arm. Among them are the letters “D.F.C.,” the inspection stamp of U.S. Ordnance Sub-Inspector David F. Clark.

Clark’s stamp appears on many military-issued Colts of the 1880s. On this revolver, it provides a direct connection to the years when the Single Action Army served America’s frontier troops. The “U.S.” marking and military inspector’s stamps aren’t decorative embellishments. They’re part of the revolver’s identity and an important part of the history we set out to preserve.

When this Colt reached our shop in 2024, that history was still there. But after 140 years, the revolver needed careful mechanical correction, renewed finishes and the return of several details that define a proper 1885 Cavalry Colt.

Setting the Mechanics Right

We began by completely disassembling and cleaning the revolver. That gave us a clear look at the fit, timing and accumulated wear throughout the action.

A new cylinder bushing was fitted, and the barrel was turned back to reset the cylinder gap to specification. The ejector housing also had to be turned back so the two aligned properly again.

The cylinder notches were recut. We then provided and fitted a new bolt, correcting the timing so the cylinder would carry up and lock as it should. This wasn’t a matter of making the action feel unusually light or modern. The goal was to restore the positive, deliberate operation expected of a working military Single Action Army.

The front sight was removed and a new sight blade fitted. Damaged or unsuitable screws were repaired or replaced where needed, with attention given to proper fit and period appearance.

Rebuilding a Proper Military Hammer

The hammer required more than refinishing. Its spur and knurling had lost the form expected on an early military Colt.

We welded the worn knurling area and reprofiled the hammer spur, creating a sound surface on which the correct pattern could be cut. Proper Type 1 knurling was then hand-engraved into the spur. It’s a relatively small feature, but it matters.

Returning the Military Stock

A set of field-grade walnut grips was fitted to the grip frame. Their character suited the revolver, but they still required careful shaping to become a proper one-piece stock.

The walnut was sanded to match the grip frame and prepared for finishing. The grain was pore-filled, then the stock was given a traditional military oil finish. The result has the plain, serviceable appearance appropriate to a U.S. Cavalry revolver. It looks finished, but not dressed up beyond its station.

The left side was stamped with the “1885” date and “F.H.” cartouche associated with the period’s military inspection. A “D.F.C.” cartouche was applied to the right side, completing the inspection details and keeping the stock consistent with the restored military markings on the revolver.

Preserving the Marks That Tell Its Story

The revolver was polished to the period-correct standard of a military Colt, not brought to the brighter, more reflective surface one might expect on a highly finished commercial revolver. A Cavalry sidearm was built for government service, and its restored metal preparation should reflect that.

Years of wear and previous work had softened markings that help tell this Colt’s story. We restored the proper legends, including the “U.S.” military marking and the “D.F.C.” inspector’s marks. They needed to be clear and correct while remaining visually at home on the surrounding surfaces.

Restoring Colt’s Military Finishes

With the metal properly prepared, the frame, loading gate and hammer were color case hardened. The colors were developed to reflect the darker black-powder and military character of an early Single Action Army rather than the brighter appearance often seen on later restorations.

The barrel, cylinder, grip frame, trigger guard and appropriate small parts received a traditional charcoal blue. The trigger, base pin and screws were nitre blued, restoring the subtle finish distinctions Colt used across the revolver.

Together, these finishes bring back the visual balance that made early military Colts so handsome without making this one look overly polished or ornamental, and the oil-finished walnut keeps the whole revolver grounded in its working military purpose.

Ready to Tell Its Story Again

After the finishes were checked, the revolver was oiled, greased and assembled. The action, timing, lockup, cylinder gap, screw fit and overall finish were inspected one final time.

Restored, this Colt once again carries the unmistakable profile of an 1885 Cavalry Single Action Army. Its 7 1/2-inch barrel, military finish, one-piece walnut stock and inspector’s markings place it squarely in the era when mounted troops still relied on the Colt as a service sidearm.

The “D.F.C.” stamp is especially meaningful. It connects this revolver to U.S. Ordnance Sub-Inspector David F. Clark and to the military-issued Colts of the 1880s. Along with the “U.S.” marking, the 1885-dated stock and the “F.H.” cartouche (for Principal Inspecting Officer Captiain Frank Heath), it helps preserve the identity of a revolver built during the final years of America’s frontier Army.

That’s what made this restoration worth doing. We weren’t trying to erase 140 years or turn an old service revolver into something it never was. We were returning the mechanics, markings, finishes and military details that define what it has always been: a Colt Model of 1873, Single Action Army, built in 1885 for the Cavalry era.

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