Make: Colt

Model: 1849 Pocket

Serial Number: 208729

Year of Manufacture: 1862

Caliber: .31

Action Type: Single Action, Percussion Revolver, Black Powder, with 6 Shot Cylinder

Barrel Length: 5"

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 "8729" hand-written. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There is worn wood at the bottom right of the grip. There is a small chip on the lower right of the grip. There are no cracks. Overall this grip is in Good to Very Good condition as Antique

Type of Finish: Blued, Silver Plated Brass, Case Hardening

Finish Originality: Original, numbered parts match.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. The rifling is well defined. There is some very minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains virtually none of its original finish. This revolver has been aggressively cleaned leaving most of the finish gone. There are scratches and corrosion stains throughout. There is fine pitting throughout. There is some minor tool marking scattered throughout. The color case is muted. The silver plating is mostly worn except in protected areas. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable. The markings are mostly clear. Overall this revolver is in Good to Very Good condition.

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, chambered in .31 caliber with a six-shot cylinder and renowned for its compact size and dependable operation. This Civil War-era example was manufactured in 1862 and features the popular 5" barrel, brass bead front sight, hammer-notch rear sight, and matching numbered components. The one-piece walnut grip remains fitted to the revolver and bears the handwritten assembly number "8729" beneath the backstrap, a detail commonly encountered on original Colt grips.

Introduced in 1850, the Model 1849 Pocket became the best-selling percussion revolver of the 19th century, with more than 325,000 produced through 1873. Its combination of light weight, practical six-shot capacity, and reliable operation made it a favorite among civilians, travelers, merchants, military officers, and soldiers throughout the California Gold Rush and the American Civil War. By 1862, the model was in widespread military and civilian use, and surviving matching examples from the Civil War period remain highly desirable among collectors of early American firearms.

This revolver retains virtually none of its original finish after being aggressively cleaned. The markings remain mostly clear. The walnut grip is in Good to Very Good antique condition with honest wear and only a small chip. The bore is mostly bright with well-defined rifling and only minor pitting. Overall, this is a matching Civil War-era Colt 1849 Pocket Revolver in Good to Very Good condition with solid mechanical function and strong collector appeal. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!