EXCELLENT BOXED COLT 1849 POCKET s/n 148727
£ 7,500
This is a lovely example of a boxed Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver , Serial Number 148727, manufactured in 1858
Samuel Colt set about designing a replacement for the short lived Model 1848 'Baby Dragoon' pocket pistol (only 15,000 being made) in 1848, coming up with the definitive Model 1849.
While the Baby Dragoon was only produced in modest numbers, the replacement 1849 pocket was a huge success, with production running from 1850 to 1873 and in numbers exceeding 290,000, mainly down to four factors:
It was able to draw on lessons learnt with the previous Baby Dragoon model.
The 1849 Model utilised advances in Steel manufacture as the process was improved in the late 1840's.
Colt designers were able to draw heavily on the upcoming (and hugely successful) 1851 Navy design, scaling the design down.
Finally and perhaps most importantly, the US Civil War created huge demand for secondary armament and personal protection.
The Colt 1849 was in effect, the worlds first truly viable and popular concealed carry firearm, manufactured in great numbers and therefore affordable. It became the defacto home defence and personal protection pistol of choice, in the later 19th Century, earning the nickname the 'Shop Keeper', as many banks and stores would have one close to hand under the counter!
It only fell out of favour when metallic cartridge firearms became widely available, but many remained in widespread use into the late 19th Century.
With a model life of 23 years and 290,000 manufactured, there are very many variations of the 1849 Model, it has been said that a complete collection of the 1849 variants would require in excess of 200 examples!
This example, manufactured in 1858, has a four inch barrel, five shot cylinder and silvered trigger guard and back strap, with two line barrel address 'ADDRESS SAML COLT
NEW YORK CITY
CONDITION REPORT
Overall: I would classify s/n 148727 in (NRA standard) Fine condition, full matching numbers, 30 +% original Colt finish surviving to barrel, frame,cylinder, hammer and rammer and aged to a lovely grey patina.
The action screws are in good order, displaying a couple of barely perceptible burrs. The revolver operates extremely well, on half and full cock and indexes and locks up absolutely solidly, suggesting a revolver that's seen very little use.
Barrel assembly:
The Barrel has 30% original finish, with clear and sharp markings and edges. The bore has clear and sharp lands and grooves, with even frosting throughout and the odd pitted swirl caused by corrosive fulminate of mercury charges contained in early percussion caps, very commonly encountered on antique revolvers and caused when percussion revolvers were fired with caps on empty chambers
The attached ramrod displaying excellent original colour, aged to a grey patina.
Frame and hammer:
The frame and hammer have large areas of original colour, wear commensurate with age and handling. All markings and edges are clear and sharp.
The cylinder:
The cylinder is excellent, with the Stagecoach scene and s/n still very clearly evident on the cylinder exterior surface. A few historic light strike marks are evident, The finish is blued and aged to rather nice patina.
The rear face is excellent, showing very little to no firing erosion, the safety pins are in good order, with some very light historic typical mishandling caused crushing and the original nipples are also in good condition.
Trigger Guard, grips and back Strap:
The walnut grips, complete with silvered brass back-strap and trigger guard are in excellent condition, most unusually, virtually all the original silvering has survived, suggesting little use.
Box and Contents:
This example comes in its Colt 19th Century period trade box and key, possibly originally housing a 5 inch barrel example. Contents:
Colt Patent .31 Bullet/Ball mould.
Nipple key (unmarked).
Period Rosewood turned ball box.
Empty period container of Eley percussion caps.
Of considerable note, is the very rare Standing Eagle/Crossed pistols Powder Flask, dating from the 1840's and often seen boxed with the 1848 Baby Dragoon.
This example is possibly one of the finest examples on the market today, in excellent functioning complete condition, with no dents and the majority of its lacquered finish surviving.
An example of this seldom encountered flask can be seen in Rilings seminal works on 19th century powder flasks, page 54, image 763.
Length 8.75 in (222 mm)
Calibre .31
Samuel Colt set about designing a replacement for the short lived Model 1848 'Baby Dragoon' pocket pistol (only 15,000 being made) in 1848, coming up with the definitive Model 1849.
While the Baby Dragoon was only produced in modest numbers, the replacement 1849 pocket was a huge success, with production running from 1850 to 1873 and in numbers exceeding 290,000, mainly down to four factors:
It was able to draw on lessons learnt with the previous Baby Dragoon model.
The 1849 Model utilised advances in Steel manufacture as the process was improved in the late 1840's.
Colt designers were able to draw heavily on the upcoming (and hugely successful) 1851 Navy design, scaling the design down.
Finally and perhaps most importantly, the US Civil War created huge demand for secondary armament and personal protection.
The Colt 1849 was in effect, the worlds first truly viable and popular concealed carry firearm, manufactured in great numbers and therefore affordable. It became the defacto home defence and personal protection pistol of choice, in the later 19th Century, earning the nickname the 'Shop Keeper', as many banks and stores would have one close to hand under the counter!
It only fell out of favour when metallic cartridge firearms became widely available, but many remained in widespread use into the late 19th Century.
With a model life of 23 years and 290,000 manufactured, there are very many variations of the 1849 Model, it has been said that a complete collection of the 1849 variants would require in excess of 200 examples!
This example, manufactured in 1858, has a four inch barrel, five shot cylinder and silvered trigger guard and back strap, with two line barrel address 'ADDRESS SAML COLT
NEW YORK CITY
CONDITION REPORT
Overall: I would classify s/n 148727 in (NRA standard) Fine condition, full matching numbers, 30 +% original Colt finish surviving to barrel, frame,cylinder, hammer and rammer and aged to a lovely grey patina.
The action screws are in good order, displaying a couple of barely perceptible burrs. The revolver operates extremely well, on half and full cock and indexes and locks up absolutely solidly, suggesting a revolver that's seen very little use.
Barrel assembly:
The Barrel has 30% original finish, with clear and sharp markings and edges. The bore has clear and sharp lands and grooves, with even frosting throughout and the odd pitted swirl caused by corrosive fulminate of mercury charges contained in early percussion caps, very commonly encountered on antique revolvers and caused when percussion revolvers were fired with caps on empty chambers
The attached ramrod displaying excellent original colour, aged to a grey patina.
Frame and hammer:
The frame and hammer have large areas of original colour, wear commensurate with age and handling. All markings and edges are clear and sharp.
The cylinder:
The cylinder is excellent, with the Stagecoach scene and s/n still very clearly evident on the cylinder exterior surface. A few historic light strike marks are evident, The finish is blued and aged to rather nice patina.
The rear face is excellent, showing very little to no firing erosion, the safety pins are in good order, with some very light historic typical mishandling caused crushing and the original nipples are also in good condition.
Trigger Guard, grips and back Strap:
The walnut grips, complete with silvered brass back-strap and trigger guard are in excellent condition, most unusually, virtually all the original silvering has survived, suggesting little use.
Box and Contents:
This example comes in its Colt 19th Century period trade box and key, possibly originally housing a 5 inch barrel example. Contents:
Colt Patent .31 Bullet/Ball mould.
Nipple key (unmarked).
Period Rosewood turned ball box.
Empty period container of Eley percussion caps.
Of considerable note, is the very rare Standing Eagle/Crossed pistols Powder Flask, dating from the 1840's and often seen boxed with the 1848 Baby Dragoon.
This example is possibly one of the finest examples on the market today, in excellent functioning complete condition, with no dents and the majority of its lacquered finish surviving.
An example of this seldom encountered flask can be seen in Rilings seminal works on 19th century powder flasks, page 54, image 763.
Length 8.75 in (222 mm)
Calibre .31
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