Make: Colt
Model: 1849 Pocket
Serial Number: 106952
Year of Manufacture: 1855
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 "6952" hand-written. There are light scratches and compression dents. There is some handling wear and worn spots of finish. There is some oil darkening. There is a small chip on the bottom right corner. There are no cracks. Overall this grip is in Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued, Silver Plated Brass, Case Hardening
Finish Originality: Original, all numbered parts match.
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 8.5/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 60% of its original finish. There are scratches and corrosion stains throughout. The most notable being on the right side of the barrel. The cylinder shows more patina. The frame shows stronger color on the right side. The silver plating mostly intact showing only light tarnish and flaking. There is light tool marking around the wedge. The screw heads show light tooling but all are serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall this revolver is in Very Good condition as Antique.
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 configuration. This early-production example was manufactured in 1855 and features the desirable two-line New York barrel address, 4" barrel, and .31 caliber chambering. It remains matching throughout all numbered parts and retains its original one-piece walnut grip, which bears the handwritten assembly number "6952" beneath the backstrap.
Introduced in 1850, the Colt Model 1849 Pocket became the best-selling percussion revolver of the 19th century, with more than 325,000 produced before production ended in 1873. The compact Pocket model was widely carried by civilians, merchants, travelers, lawmen, and military officers who valued its combination of concealability, reliability, and six- or five-shot capacity. Early examples with the two-line New York barrel address are especially sought after, representing the formative years of Colt's most commercially successful percussion revolver and an important chapter in antebellum American firearms history.
This revolver remains in Very Good antique condition, retaining approximately 60% of its original finish with strong surviving blue, traces of strong case color, and largely intact silver plating. The matching walnut grip shows only light handling wear with a small chip at the toe, while the mostly bright bore retains well-defined rifling and rates 8.5/10. The action functions correctly, and aside from light tool marks around the wedge and minor screw wear, the revolver remains a well-preserved, matching example with excellent collector appeal. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!
