It has been 30 years or so since I got to look and handle a SSA with a serial number that fit in the block of numbers issued to the 7th cavalry before they lit out for their ill fated mission. I don't remember the actual numbers but I do remember they fell in that block of numbers and remember the weapoin fairly well.
It was not nickle plated, in fact it was in pretty poor shape cosmetically, showing one of its owners in its past, did not care for the weapon properly, lots of water corrosion marks, etc. it was an ugly gun......IE: one of the owners in its past did not have proper training in the care of firearms.....the seller presumed it was possibly some Sioux or other Indian brave from one of the other tribes in that battle, that picked it up!
According to the seller as I recollect, it had traded hands many times as just an old black powder cartridge Colt. No one, until he was offered it, knew what it represented. He was up on Colts and got it for a song, he said.
Anyway, it was way out of my price range as the seller knew what he had there. It really should have belonged in a museum but then I would not have had the opportunity to hold history in my hands.
It that gun could have only talked.......what stories it could have told.
Y'all's postings pull out old forgotten memories for me some times............I appreciate that.
Griswold