Make: Colt
Model: 1849 Pocket "Wells Fargo"
Serial Number: 113654
Year of Manufacture: 1856, Antique
Caliber: .31
Action Type: Single Action, Percussion Revolver, Black Powder, with 5 Shot Cylinder
Barrel Length: 3"
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 smooth one piece walnut. There is a matching handwritten serial number in the backstrap inlet. There are light scratches and compression dents throughout. There are some spots of worn finish. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this grip is in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Silver Plated Brass, Case Hardened
Finish Originality: Original, Numbered parts match.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright. The rifling is well defined. There is some scattered light pitting. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains virtually none of its original finish. The bluing and case hardening have worn to brown patina with corrosion staining. The silver plating has worn off of all external surfaces. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable. The hammer pivot screw looks like it may be a replacement. The markings are clear. Overall this revolver is in Very Good to Fine 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 is one of the most successful percussion revolvers of the 19th century, and this compact 1856 example is in the configuration commonly referred to by collectors as the "Wells Fargo" model. Chambered in .31 caliber, it features a 3" barrel, five-shot cylinder, and smooth one-piece walnut grip with a matching handwritten serial number in the backstrap inlet. The numbered components match, adding considerably to the integrity of this nearly 170-year-old Colt.
The Model 1849 Pocket evolved from Colt's earlier Baby Dragoon and became enormously popular with civilians seeking a small, readily carried repeating handgun. Short-barreled examples without loading levers have acquired the "Wells Fargo" nickname in the collecting community, reflecting the type of compact sidearm associated with expressmen, travelers, and commercial personnel during the era, though the nickname alone does not establish Wells Fargo provenance. Produced during the California Gold Rush, westward expansion, and the turbulent years preceding the Civil War, the Model 1849 became one of Samuel Colt's greatest commercial successes and remains an important artifact of the percussion revolver era.
This revolver retains virtually none of its original finish, with the blue and case hardening worn to brown patina with corrosion staining and the exterior silver plating essentially gone. The walnut grip remains in Very Good condition with light scratches, compression dents, and finish wear but no chips or cracks. The semi-bright bore has well-defined rifling with scattered light pitting and rates 7/10, while the action functions correctly. The screw heads remain serviceable, though the hammer pivot screw appears possibly replaced. Overall, this is a Very Good to Fine antique Colt 1849 Pocket with matching numbered parts, a desirable short-barreled configuration, and substantial mid-19th-century collector appeal. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!
