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Colt 1849 .31 Caliber Pocket Percussion Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:2,400.00 - 3,250.00 USD
Colt 1849 .31 Caliber Pocket Percussion Revolver
Truly exceptional Colt 1849, five-inch barrel, .31 caliber percussion revolver, serial number 212806, made during the early part of the Civil War in 1862. This model was popular with an array of frontier individuals, Civil War soldiers seeking a small “last ditch” personal weapon, urban gentlemen and ladies who wanted the finest firearm available for personal protection and easy concealment, Montana gold seekers, travelers etc. This is a particularly fine condition example with serial numbers matching on the butt, loading lever, trigger guard, frame, barrel, wedge and cylinder. The excellent one piece walnut grips retain most of their high finish varnish. The matching cylinder shows a very nice and complete roll engraved stagecoach holdup scene! The brass grip frame and trigger guard retain nearly all of the original factory silver plating and does not appear to have ever been cleaned or polished. Having any of the silver remaining on the grip straps and trigger guard is unusual as most examples extant have long since lost this attractive finish to normal wear and use. The frame on this fine revolver still displays some fine, light case colors, which like the silver plating, is usually completely faded away. The octagon barrel retains most of the original deep blue with only a few small areas of flaking and is correctly marked on top “ADDRESS COL. SAML. COLT NEW-YORK U. S. AMERICA.” Aside from the excellent roll marked scene, the cylinder is also correctly marked “COLT’S PATENT” with the matching serial number crisply stamped underneath. The cylinder, too, retains much original blue. Tight and excellent action, particularly fine frame screw heads that still have much of their original fire blue finish, with all parts original and showing no signs of abuse or cleaning all make this a superb investment quality Colt. Adding to the interest and intrigue of this example is the fact that it also displays crisp British Proof Marks. During the hectic manufacturing days of the Civil War, most of Colt’s production went to filling government contracts for the Union as well as producing revolvers for commercial sale to Northern officers and enlisted men who wanted their own personal sidearms. Very few Colts during this time were exported to England. However, it is well known that many English ships ran blockades to bring much needed arms and other materiel to the Confederate Army of the South. There is every possibility that this fine Colt was so used by an English ship captain or was purchased as a black market item to sell to the Confederacy. Either way, this only adds to the desirability and potential historical significance of this beautiful condition 158 year old Colt. After the Civil War many of these dependable revolvers went to the American western frontier and gold fields. An outstanding example with original blue, silver plating and matching numbers, this early Civil War production Model 1849 is worthy of the finest British, Civil War, Colt or Old West collection. A finer conditioned example would be difficult to locate as few extant retain any blue, case color or silver plating. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.