Colt Model 1849 Pocket .31 Cal Percussion Cap & Ball Revolver, MFD 1860
SOLD FOR: $1,325
LSB#: 191108CD09
Make: Colt
Model: 1849 Pocket
Serial Number: 162225
Year of Manufacture: 2860 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .31 Caliber Ball
Action Type: 5-Shot, Single Action Percussion Revolver
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “ADDRESS SAML (small “L”) COLT / NEW YORK CITY”. The left side of the frame is marked “COLTS / PATENT”. The bottom of the barrel assembly, bottom of the frame, bottom of the trigger guard and bottom of the backstrap are each marked “162225”. The bottom of the wedge is marked “62225”. The cylinder arbor is marked “2225” on the bottom. The top of the loading lever is marked “2225”. The cylinder is marked “COLTS PATENT / No 162225” with a roll-engraved stagecoach scene. The backstrap inlet on the grip is hand-marked “2225”. The left of the trigger guard is marked “K” at the front and “M” on the flat at the rear.
Barrel Length: 5”, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a concical brass bead at the muzzle, the rear sight is a “V” notch in the hammer, visible when cocked.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is a one-piece smooth walnut. The grip has light handling wear with several scattered light compressions, scuffs, nicks and scratches. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grip is in about Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: The barrel and cylinder are blued, the frame, loading lever and hammer case-colored. The grip frame silver-plated brass.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is still well defined, but worn. There is light-moderate erosion throughout the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 20% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has scattered remaining finish interrupted by light surface oxidation, infrequent minor surface erosion, scattered scuffs, scratches and nicks. There is more notable scraping on the left above the hinge of the loading lever and there are tool marks around the wedge on both sides, more notable on the right. The loading lever has case color remaining on its flats with the rounds mostly worn to white. The frame has about half of its case color still showing with the balance gone to gray and showing scattered minor surface oxidation, nicks and scratches, The cylinder’s finish has mostly gone to a light patina with some scattered light surface erosion, most notable around the nipples and scattered light marks. The grip frame’s silver finish remains only under the grip with the exposed portions worn to expose the brass underneath which shows a mustard patina, verdigris at the edges of the grips and some scattered minor nicks and handling marks. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Good condition as Antique (see Mechanics).
Mechanics: The cylinder occasionally over-rotates when cocked. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. The barrel has no play to the frame. The cylinder locks up with very little play on each chamber with some end-shake. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: From R.L. Wilson’s ‘The Book of Colt Firearms’, page 107 “This rather diminutive revolver, a smaller brother to the 36 caliber Model 1851 Navy, met with the largest sales unit volume in all of Colt’s percussion line. Indeed, no other percussion revolver made in America could match “The 1849” production record. Made from 1850 through 1873, the total manufactured was in excess of 325,000 in America, plus approximately 11,000 in London…Popular as a defense weapon, many thousands were sold in Western America to pioneer families. Soldiers appreciated the compact little pistols, and photographs of Civil War troops frequently show a sprinkling of the Model 1849 tucked into belts or in holsters.” This 1849 was made in 1860, just as the Civil War was starting. It appears to have seen a long and useful life with serialized parts still matching, and a decent bore. The mechanics are still surprisingly strong for a 160 year old percussion revolver. It certainly looks like it has a story to tell and would make for a great display or conversation piece in a collection of early Colt revolvers. Please see our pictures and good luck!