Make: Colt
Model: 1862 Pocket and Police Cartridge Conversion
Serial Number: 10293
Year of Manufacture: 1862
Caliber: .38 Colt Rimfire Short
Action Type: Single action, rimfire revolver, cartridge conversion, with 5 shot cylinder.
Barrel Length: 4 1/2"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a half moon blade soldered to the barrel. The rear sight is a V notch in the hammer nose visible when cocked.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one piece smooth walnut. There is a handwritten serial number in the backstrap inletting. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There is worn finish scattered throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this grip is in Good condition as antique.
Type of Finish: Nickel plating, silver plated brass, case hardening.
Finish Originality: Original, numbered parts match with the exception of the arbor marking, which is no longer legible.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright. The rifling is well defined. There is light erosion and pitting throughout the bore. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 6/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 40% of its nickel finish. There is flaking and corrosion staining throughout. The color case has muted and shows patina and corrosion staining. The silver has worn off all external surfaces. The screw heads are tooled but serviceable. The markings are mostly legible. Overall this revolver is in Good condition as antique.
Mechanics: This action does not function correctly. The timing is off. 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 1862 Police and Pocket Cartridge Conversion represents an important transitional stage between Colt’s percussion revolvers and the company’s later purpose-built metallic-cartridge handguns. Originally manufactured in 1862 as a percussion revolver, this example was subsequently converted to fire .38 caliber rimfire cartridges and now features a five-shot cylinder, 4 1/2" barrel, half-moon front sight, and one-piece walnut grip. The numbered components match with the exception of the arbor marking, which is no longer legible, giving the revolver considerable integrity despite its age and later conversion.
Colt converted substantial numbers of its percussion revolvers to metallic-cartridge ignition after the expiration of Rollin White’s bored-through-cylinder patent opened the way for broader cartridge revolver production. These conversions allowed existing Model 1862 Police and Pocket-pattern revolvers to remain useful during the rapid transition from cap-and-ball arms to self-contained ammunition. Surviving factory-period conversion revolvers are especially interesting because they visibly document this technological change, retaining much of the architecture of Colt’s percussion era while incorporating the cartridge system that would dominate future handgun development.
This revolver retains about 40% of its nickel finish, with extensive flaking, corrosion staining, muted case colors, and essentially complete exterior loss of the original silver plating. The walnut grip remains in Good antique condition with scratches, compression dents, and finish wear but no chips or cracks. The semi-bright bore has well-defined rifling with light erosion and pitting throughout and rates 6/10. Mechanically, the action does not function correctly because the timing is off. Overall, this is a Good-condition antique Colt cartridge conversion with matching numbered parts, considerable transitional-era historical interest, and visible evidence of long service. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!
