Make: Colt

Model: 1862 Pocket Navy Conversion

Serial#: 2374

Year of Manufacture: 1875

Caliber: .38 Colt Centerfire

Action Type: Single action revolver, cartridge conversion, with 5 shot cylinder

Barrel Length: 4 1/2"

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/ Grip: The grip is one piece smooth walnut. There is some handling wear. There are light scratches and compression dents. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this grip is in Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Nickel plated

Finish Originality: This gun left the factory as blued. The nickel finish was applied by the dealer, a common practice in this era. Numbered parts match with the exception of the wedge and grip which are unmarked.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is defined. There is erosion and pitting. There is some notable pitting about halfway down the bore. In this writer's opinion this bore rates 6/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver left the factory, per letter, as a .38 rimfire and finished in blue. It was later converted to centerfire and nickel plated outside the factory. This revolver retains about 75% of its nickel finish. There is wear and flaking of the nickel finish. There is corrosion staining and pitting scattered throughout. Much of the plating on the brass is gone. The timing is good. Overall this revolver is in Good condition as Antique.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used guns a full cleaning may be necessary to meet your standards.

Box Paperwork and Accessories: Factory letter

Our Assessment: The Colt Model 1862 Pocket Navy Conversion represents Colt's transition from percussion revolvers to self-contained metallic cartridges during the 1870s. Built on the compact five-shot Pocket Navy pattern, these cartridge revolvers are documented with 4 1/2" barrels and .38 rimfire chambering. This revolver is considerably more interesting because its Colt factory letter documents its individual history: serial number 2374 shipped in 1875 as a factory-engraved, blued .38 rimfire revolver. Its subsequent conversion to .38 Colt centerfire reflects the continued usefulness of these early cartridge Colts after rimfire ammunition became obsolete, while the documented factory engraving remains its most important collector feature.

This example has a dealer applied nickel finish and was converted from its original .38 rimfire configuration to .38 Colt centerfire. About 75% of the nickel remains, with flaking, wear, corrosion staining, scattered pitting, and substantial plating loss from the brass components. The smooth walnut grip remains in Very Good antique condition, while the gray bore retains defined rifling with erosion and notable localized pitting and rates 6/10. The numbered components match aside from the unmarked wedge and grip, timing is good, and the action functions correctly. Despite the later centerfire conversion and dealer applied nickel finish, the accompanying Colt factory letter confirming the 1875 shipment, original blue finish, .38 rimfire chambering, and factory engraving gives this revolver considerable historical and collector interest. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!