Make: Colt
Model: 1849 Pocket
Serial Number: 87695
Year of Manufacture: 1854
Caliber: .31
Action Type: Single Action, Percussion Revolver, Black Powder, with 5 Shot Cylinder
Barrel Length: 6"
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 "7695" hand-written. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There are spots of worn finish. The bottom front corners have minor chipping. 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, all numbered parts match.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is well defined. There is moderate erosion and pitting throughout. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 6/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 5% of its original finish. The bluing has worn to a brown patina with scratches and corrosion stains. The color case is muted with corrosion staining. The silver plating is mostly worn with remaining only showing where it is protected. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable. The markings are legible and clear. Overall this revolver is in Good to Very Good 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, combining compact dimensions with a dependable five-shot .31 caliber cylinder and reliable single-action operation. This early-production example was manufactured in 1854 and features the desirable two-line New York barrel address, a 6" barrel, brass bead front sight, hammer-notch rear sight, and a one-piece walnut grip bearing the handwritten assembly number "7695" beneath the backstrap. The revolver remains matching throughout all numbered parts, enhancing its appeal to collectors of early Colt percussion firearms.
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 ended in 1873. Its light weight, practical five-shot configuration, and dependable operation made it a favorite among civilians, merchants, travelers, and lawmen during the Gold Rush and the years leading up to the Civil War. Early examples with the two-line New York barrel address are particularly desirable, representing the formative years of Colt's most commercially successful cap-and-ball revolver.
This revolver retains approximately 5% of its original finish, with the balance worn to a brown patina showing scratches and corrosion staining. The walnut grip remains in Good to Very Good antique condition with only minor chipping at the toe, while the gray bore retains well-defined rifling despite moderate erosion and pitting, earning a 6/10 rating. The action functions correctly, making this a matching 1854 Colt 1849 Pocket Revolver in Good to Very Good antique condition with strong historical character and collector appeal. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!
