Make: Colt

Model: Open Top Pocket .22 Revolver

Serial Number: 65937

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1875

Caliber: .22 Rimfire

Action Type: Single Action Side-Loading Revolver

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-COLTS PT> F>A MFG Co/ HARTFORD CT.,U.S. A”,. The left of the frame is marked “.22CAL”. The bottom of the barrel and the butt are each marked “65937”. 

Barrel Length: 2.5”or 2 3/8 inches respectively

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the hammer.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is a two-piece smooth redwood. The grips have almost no wear. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about excellent condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Nickel

Finish Originality: Original.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with well defined rifling. There is scattered light-moderate erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 9/10.

Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases, the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collectors’ firearms.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 94% of its metal finish. Only places where we should see wear are worn; the remaining nickel is bright as this gun has seen very little use. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp with serviceable slots and also very good color retention in the screws, trigger and hammer. The markings range from clear to slightly worn. Overall, this revolver is in about excellent condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The cylinder does properly advance when the hammer is drawn back; the action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up with little play on each chamber. The barrel has no play to the frame. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Colt Open Top Pocket Model Revolver was a single action pocket revolver introduced by the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in 1871. Introduced a year before the Colt Open Top (a model from 1872) and two years before the Colt Peacemaker and the Colt New Line (both introduced in 1873), the Colt Open Top Pocket Model Revolver was, alongside the Colt House Revolver, one of the two first metallic cartridge rear-loading revolvers manufactured by Colt's. It also was one of the first pocket metallic cartridge revolvers made by the company. When the Rollin White patent for bored-through cylinders in firearms manufacture expired (c. 1870) the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company started working on its own metallic cartridge revolvers (Colt had previously been manufacturing the so-called Richards-Mason conversions). Thus, Colt introduced its first rear-loaders in 1871: the Colt House/Cloverleaf and the Colt Open Top Pocket Model Revolver.In the 1870s the firearms market was awash with cheaply made knockoffs of the .22 caliber Smith & Wesson Model One which sold for about $2. Colt's president Richard Jarvis decided it would not compete directly with the knockoffs; that its .22 would be of Colt quality. The Open Top Pocket was priced at $8.Though it's not at the original easily obtainable price this revolver is in fine shape and has stood through time with only a few scuffs. In its all but excellent condition it will make a wonderful addition to any Colt Collection.