Make: Colt
Model: 1849 Pocket
Serial Number: 88577
Year of Manufacture: 1854
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. There are scratches and light compression dents throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this grip is in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Silver Plated Brass, Case Hardening
Finish Originality: Original, all numbered parts match except for the loading lever which has been replaced. The marking inside the grip is no longer legible.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. The rifling is well defined. There is some 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. The bluing and color case has worn to brown patina with corrosion staining. The silver plating has worn on all external surfaces. There is heavy tool marking at the rear of the cylinder. There is moderate tool marking around the wedge. The end of the loading lever has been modified. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable. The markings are legible. Overall this revolver is in Poor condition due to mechanics. See below.
Mechanics: This action does not function correctly. The timing is good but the indexing lugs are broken and the barrel assembly is loose and not safe to shoot. 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 influential percussion handguns, prized for its compact size, dependable operation, and practical five-shot .31 caliber cylinder. This early-production example was manufactured in 1854 and features the desirable two-line New York barrel address, 4" barrel, brass bead front sight, hammer-notch rear sight, and original walnut grip. All numbered parts match with the exception of the replacement loading lever, while the grip's internal assembly number has worn away with age.
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 light weight and compact dimensions made it an ideal personal-defense revolver for civilians, merchants, travelers, and lawmen, while officers on both sides of the Civil War also favored the design. Early examples with the two-line New York barrel address represent the formative years of Colt's percussion revolver production and remain especially desirable among collectors of antebellum American firearms.
This revolver retains virtually none of its original finish, with the metal worn to a brown patina and showing corrosion staining, extensive tool marks, and worn silver plating. The walnut grip remains in Very Good condition, and the bore is mostly bright with well-defined rifling, earning an 8/10 rating despite minor pitting. Mechanically, however, the revolver is unsafe to fire due to broken indexing lugs and a loose barrel assembly, resulting in a Poor overall condition rating despite its otherwise matching configuration. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!
