Colt 1849 Pocket 4″ Single Action Revolver 31 Cal 1864 Full Cylinder Scene
SOLD FOR: $1,579.00
LSB#: LSB250520JB046
Make: Colt
Model: 1849 Pocket
Serial Number: 269898
Year of Manufacture: 1864 (Antique)
Caliber: .31 Caliber
Action Type: Single Action Percussion Revolver
Markings:
The top of the barrel is marked “ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA”. The left side of the frame is marked “COLTS / PATENT”. The left side of the trigger guard flat is marked “31 CAL”. The bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, and butt are all marked with matching serial number “269898”. The cylinder is engraved with Colt’s classic stagecoach holdup scene and marked “COLTS PATENT” with the partial serial number visible. The loading lever and barrel wedge are also numbered and match the rest of the revolver.
Barrel Length: 4″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass bead fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a notch at the rear of the hammer.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece varnished walnut. The fit remains tight, with minor wear from age and use. There are small compressions, surface handling marks, and softened edges near the toe, but no cracks or chips. The grip rates in about Good to Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Originally blued barrel and cylinder with case-colored frame, silver-plated brass grip frame. The present condition shows patina and age toning.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion in the bore but there is stubborn fouling throughout. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains 35% of its original finish. The octagonal barrel still shows glints of its original blue, now aged to a smoky luster like an antique mirror waiting to be cleaned and peered into once more. The frame bears a soft gray patina, its vivid case coloring now long faded. The cylinder retains a surprisingly strong scene—Colt’s signature stagecoach holdup—a miniature advertisement etched in steel, invoking the peril and promise of 19th-century America. The brass grip frame has developed a handsome mustard-colored patina. Leading edges are well-worn and smooth from handling. The screw heads show wear but remain serviceable. Markings remain legible. Overall, this revolver rates in about Good-Very Good condition for its age.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer holds at half and full cock. The cylinder locks up with minimal play. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Our Assessment:
The Colt 1849 Pocket revolver was one of the most popular and widely carried personal sidearms of the 19th century. Produced in staggering numbers and beloved for its compact profile and reliable performance, it was the faithful traveling companion of merchants, pioneers, and prospectors. This example, made in 1864, would have been right at home during the final years of the Civil War or tucked into the vest pocket of a westward-bound settler.
Its features speak to both practical use and aesthetic charm. The 4” octagonal barrel still clings to remnants of its original blue, while the frame and cylinder bear the graceful aging of over 160 years. The richly patinaed brass, crisp cylinder scene, and bright bore suggest it was well-kept and valued. Colt’s marketing brilliance is on full display with that iconic cylinder engraving—a narrative of survival and defense that sells the gun as much as the steel and powder.
Collectors will appreciate this revolver’s originality and evocative presence. With its matching numbers, classic Colt markings, matching wedge, and timeless lines, this is more than just a firearm—it’s a surviving relic of the American experience. Whether you’re a seasoned Colt collector, an Old West enthusiast, or someone who values mechanical artistry wrapped in American history, this 1849 Pocket is a quintessential antique worthy of admiration.
So bid high and bid firm. I encourage you to look at the condition of the item in our high-quality photos. Good luck with your bid. -K.F.
