Make: Colt
Model: 1849 Pocket
Serial Number: 182955
Year of Manufacture: 1860
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 "2955" hand-written. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There are a couple notable dents on the bottom of the grip. There are some worn spots of finish on the bottom of the grip. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this grip is in Good to Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Silver Plated Brass, Case Hardening
Finish Originality: Original, all numbered parts match with the exception of the arbor, wedge pin, loading lever, and a few screws that have been replaced.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright. The rifling is well defined. There are some moderate spots of erosion and pitting. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 5% of its original finish. The bluing has worn to a brown patina with corrosion staining. The color case is muted with corrosion staining. The silver plating has mostly worn but some shows in more protected areas. There is scratching and heavy tool marking throughout. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The markings are legible. There is excessive cylinder end shake. Overall this revolver is in Poor condition.
Mechanics: This 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, prized for its compact dimensions, dependable operation, and practical five-shot .31 caliber cylinder. This 1860 example features the desirable two-line Hartford barrel address, a 4" barrel, brass bead front sight, hammer-notch rear sight, and a one-piece walnut grip bearing the handwritten assembly number "2955" beneath the backstrap. While several components—including the arbor, wedge pin, loading lever, and a few screws—have been replaced, the remaining numbered parts match.
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 size, light weight, and reliable single-action design made it a favorite among civilians, merchants, travelers, military officers, and soldiers during the Gold Rush and throughout the Civil War. Hartford-address examples manufactured in 1860 represent the mature production period of Colt's most commercially successful cap-and-ball revolver and remain popular with collectors of early American firearms.
This revolver retains approximately 5% of its original finish, with the balance worn to a brown patina showing corrosion staining, heavy tool marks, and extensive handling wear. The walnut grip remains in Good to Very Good condition, while the semi-bright bore has well-defined rifling with moderate erosion and pitting, earning a 7/10 rating. Although the action functions correctly, excessive cylinder end shake and numerous replacement parts contribute to its Poor overall condition as an antique. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!
