Make: Colt
Model: 1849 Pocket
Serial Number: 290900
Year of Manufacture: 1867
Caliber: .31
Action Type: Single Action, Percussion Revolver, Black Powder, with 5 Shot Cylinder
Barrel Length: 4"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass bead drilled and tapped into the barrel. The rear sight is a V notch on the nose of the hammer.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one piece smooth walnut. The backstrap inlet has "0900" hand-written. There are scratches and light compression dents throughout. There is a more notable dent on the lower left corner of the grip. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this grip is in Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued, Silver Plated Brass, Case Hardening.
Finish Originality: Original, numbered parts match, with the exception of the loading lever.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. The rifling is very well defined. There are only a few very minor spots of corrosion. In this writer's opinion this bore 9/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 50% of its original finish. There are scratches and handling marks scattered throughout. The bluing on the cylinder shows more wear. There is some minor corrosion staining. The color case still shows some good color. The silver plating is worn but still remains in less handled and protected areas. There are tool marks mostly concentrated near the wedge. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tooled but are all serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall this revolver is in Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this revolver. As with any used guns a full cleaning may be necessary to meet your standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver is one of Samuel Colt's most successful percussion handgun designs, valued for its compact size, reliable single-action mechanism, and practical five-shot .31 caliber cylinder. This 1867 example features the desirable one-line New York barrel address, a 4" barrel, brass bead front sight, hammer-notch rear sight, and a one-piece walnut grip bearing the handwritten assembly number "0900" beneath the backstrap. The revolver retains matching numbered parts with the exception of the replacement loading lever.
Introduced in 1850, the Model 1849 Pocket became the best-selling percussion revolver of the 19th century, with more than 325,000 produced before production concluded in 1873. Its compact dimensions, dependable operation, and ease of carry made it a favorite among civilians, travelers, merchants, lawmen, and military officers during the Gold Rush, Civil War, and Reconstruction eras. Late-production examples such as this 1867 revolver illustrate the continued popularity of the percussion Pocket Model even as metallic-cartridge handguns were becoming increasingly common.
This revolver retains approximately 50% of its original finish, with pleasing surviving blue, traces of strong case color, and silver plating remaining in protected areas. The walnut grip remains in Very Good antique condition with only honest handling wear, while the mostly bright bore has very well-defined rifling and only a few minor spots of corrosion, earning an excellent 9/10 rating. The action functions correctly, making this a Very Good condition antique Colt 1849 Pocket Revolver with strong originality and excellent collector appeal. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!
