Summary

Colt 1849 Pocket model percussion revolver, cal. .31 in., rifled octagonal barrel 126 mm (5 inch) long with loading lever attached.

Made by Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co, Hartford, Connecticut. Serial number 296921, 1868. The serial number is well beyond those being produced during the years of operation of Colt's London Armoury, but the British proofmarks certainly denote it as being destined for the British market.

Below the serial number stamping on the backstrap is 'JR/ 178 78', identifiying the revolver as having gone throught the workshop of prominent nineteenth century Melbourne gun retailer, James W. Rosier.

Physical Description

Six chambered cylinder engraved with stagecoach hold-up scene, small rounded blued steel trigger guard, steel frame with strong case hardeneding colours, blued steel back strap, wooden grips, pin style front sight. Knurling on hammer is typical London style. Head of hammer pivot screw on left hand side has been sheared off. Barrel address is one-line New York address. Cylinder and left hand side of barrel stamped with British proof marks. Inspector's intial 'L' stamped onto triggerguard below serial number, onto the butt below the serial number, onto frame below serial number and on the barrel lug above the serial number.

Significance

The 1849 Pocket Model, also termed the New Pocket Model, was the singular most popular Colt handgun of the nineteenth century with its production (including the Baby Dragoon models) running from 1848 to 1872.

Perceived as an improved continuation of the 1848 Baby Dragoon, it differed through the addition of a loading lever, rectangular cyclinder stops with guides and adopted the stagecoach hold-up scene, in place of the military themed soldiers and indian scene of the Baby Dragoon.

This particular example, with its all steel fittings, is typical of Colt revolvers produced in/ or produced for England - catering for the English preference for all blued steel, rather than brass fittings. A significant development of the one-line New York address models is the increase in capacity from a five to a six chambered cylinder.

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