Make: Colt

Model: 1849 Pocket

Serial Number: 243190

Year of Manufacture: 1863

Caliber: .31

Action Type: Single Action, Percussion Revolver, Black Powder, with 6 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 "3190" hand-written. There are scratches and light compression dents throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this grip is in Very Good condition for 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 well defined. There is minor corrosion and pitting scattered throughout. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 7.5/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains virtually none of its original finish. The bluing has worn to brown patina with light corrosion stains. The color case muted with corrosion stains. The silver plating only remains in protected areas. There are scratches and tool marks throughout. Some of the screws have been changed. The screw heads are tool marked but serviceable. The markings are legible. Overall this revolver is in Fair condition for Antique due to the timing issue. If repaired this revolver would rate in Good condition.

Mechanics: The action does not function correctly. The timing is off on a couple chambers. The mainspring has been replaced. 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, combining compact dimensions with a practical six-shot .31 caliber cylinder and reliable single-action operation. This 1863 Civil War-era 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 numbered “3190” beneath the backstrap. The numbered parts match with the exception of the loading lever, and the mainspring and several screws have been replaced.

Introduced in 1850, the Model 1849 Pocket became the best-selling percussion revolver of the 19th century, with more than 325,000 produced before manufacture ended in 1873. Its compact size, light weight, and six-shot capacity made it popular with civilians, travelers, merchants, military officers, and soldiers throughout the Gold Rush, Civil War, and Reconstruction periods. One-line New York examples from the Civil War era remain especially desirable as representative examples of Colt’s most commercially successful cap-and-ball revolver.

This revolver retains virtually none of its original finish, with the metal worn to a brown patina showing light corrosion staining, scratches, and tool marks. The walnut grip remains in Very Good antique condition, while the mostly bright bore has well-defined rifling with minor corrosion and pitting, rating 7.5/10. The action does not function correctly because the timing is off on a couple of chambers, resulting in a Fair overall rating; if repaired, it would rate in Good condition. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!