Colt New York State Militia SAA Description

in 1895 before work began on the artillery models, Colt refurbished 800 SAA revolvers supplied by Springfield Armory, especially for the New York State Militia. These guns retained their 7 ½ inch barrels and all original parts wherever possible. Replacement parts were serial numbered to match, and strangely, barrels and cylinders over serial #9999 were given the missing first and second digits of the whole serial number where they had never before been applied. In addition to receiving a high polish blue and case hardened civilian finish, their hammers were "fire-blued" instead of being color case hardened. Since most other Cavalry models in the government's possession were cut to 5 ½ inches shortly thereafter, these 800 are quite possibly the only remaining 7 ½ inch SAAs that could actually have seen service on the American frontier against hostiles. Most other 7 ½ inch Cavalry revolvers that are seen today were likely issued to state militias rather than the U.S. Army. Some are found with unit markings on their buttstraps and/or grips or with lanyard swivels. These 800 Colt revolvers therefore may have played a very significant role in the history of the Indian wars. Beware of re-numbered cylinders.

Since New York Militia revolvers are frequently encountered with a mismatched part, the question is often asked if the mismatched part affects value. If the serial number of the mismatched part can be attributed to another known New York Militia revolver, then the answer is "only slightly". Since the serial numbers of all 800 refurbished 1895 New York Militia models are recorded in the Colt ledgers, the serial number of the mismatched part should always belong to another documented New York example. In many cases, cylinders had been inadvertently switched by a New York Trooper, or back straps were refitted onto an incorrect revolver when the New York Militia armorer fitted the lanyard swivel.
CAUTION: Unscrupulous fakers have been known to restamp the (correctly) mismatched part with the "host" revolver's primary serial number.