Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Colt Single Action Army was adopted as the standard U.S. military service revolver in 1873. Production began that same year with the Single Action Army model 1873, also referred to as the New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol. The gun was designed for the United States government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company.
The serial number range for Colt Single Action Army revolvers inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth is 4500 to 7527. Ainsworth served as the ordnance sub-inspector at the Colt factory from October 1873 to November 1874. These specific guns were inspected by Ainsworth and used by Col. G. A. Custer's 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
A total number of 44,350 Colt Bisley revolvers were manufactured before production ended in 1912. The serial numbers for these firearms range from 156300 to 331916. Serial No. 331916 was shipped after the First World War despite the termination of production in 1912.
The first Colt Single Action Army prototypes were manufactured in .44 American caliber for the 1872 government trials. This cartridge was used in the 1,000 Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolvers issued to the troops during the tests. After the tests, the government specified that a .45 caliber cartridge would be required for the final adoption.
Arizona Senate Bill 1610 was passed on the last day of the 2010 to 2011 regular legislative session. Governor Jan Brewer signed the bill into law after the Arizona State Rifle and Pistol Association survey determined the Colt Patent Firearms Single Action Army won by a 38% margin. Arizona is the second state to have an official firearm following Utah's adoption of the Colt M1911 pistol.