and a stagecoach holdup roll scene. The grip frame and rounded trigger guard are made of brass and are silver plated. There are both large and small trigger guard variations noted.
Model 1849 Pocket, nickel finish.
This is the most plentiful of all the Colt percussion revolvers. Approximately 325,000 were manufactured during a 23-year period, from 1850 to 1873, and serial numbers run from about #14400 and up. There are more than 200 variations of the 1849 Pocket, and one should consult an expert for individual appraisals. Many fine publications specialize in the field of Colt percussion revolvers and these would be most helpful identifying variations. The values represented here are for the standard model.
Model 1849 Pocket, cased with accessories.
NOTE: This advertisement appeared in the Spring of 2007 at AntiqueGunList.com:
“Colt 1849 Pocket Model, 31 cal., 4 inch barrel, 5 shot, SN 136XXX 1859. It has all matching numbers including the rammer but the wedge is un-numbered and appears not to be an original Colt wedge. It is loose but will not come out without removing the wedge screw. The action is tight and correct, no looseness between frame and barrel. The cylinder has about 70% scene and the screws are all good. The frame and barrel are smooth and not pitted, hints of color. The 2 line New York address, serial numbers and patent stamp are all sharp and readable. The back strap and trigger guard have 30% silver remaining. The original grips appear to have been re-varnished as they are in excellent condition with no chips or cracks. Overall condition very good. $1,295.”
As did the following advertisement. Note that the gun and its presentation are very different from the previous, yielding a very different asking price:
“Cased 1849 Colt Pocket Model, 5 inch barrel, 2 line New York address, SN 144XXX 1858, wood case and accessories. I will start with the fact that it appears this cased 49 had some moisture damage at one time. I believe that is why it was re-lined as a French fitted case, very well done and not recently. The lid does not close all the way down on the right corner, warped slightly, sets up about a 1/4 inch, but fixable. There are two spots of pitting on the 49 on the right side where it touched the case. Those are the negatives mentioned up front. I believe this Colt has always been cased. It has 85% scene, 80% safety pins remaining, 80% thin barrel blue, 50% frame and rammer case colors and 80% silver on the trigger guard and back strap. All the serial numbers match including the rammer and wedge. The action is correct, the bore is a shiny 8 to 9 and the barrel address and patent stamps are sharp. The original grips have only a small amount of edge wear with no chips or cracks and 98% of the varnish remaining. The flask is a double faced Eagle with pistol and flask. It is in fine condition with no dents or seam openings. I see these flasks out there in this condition for $450 to $700. The Colt stamped bullet mold has most of the original blue on the inside and thin blue on the outside and does not appear to have been used. The percussion tin is empty but it is an early Eley, London marked tin. The unopened ammo pack is in excellent condition. I feel that the wood case is an original case with restoration. I have more pictures of the case and accessories, if interested I will email them to you. An early 49 pre Civil War cased Pocket model with nice accessories at a fair price. Overall condition very good plus to fine. $3,995.”
Model 1849, Wells-Fargo marked.
London Model 1849 Pocket.
LONDON MODEL 1849 POCKET
Identical in configuration to the standard 1849 Pocket Revolver, the London-made models have a higher quality finish and their own serial numbers range from #1 to #11000. They were manufactured from 1853 through 1857. The ’49 London Pocket features a roll engraved cylinder scene and the barrels are stamped “ADDRESS COL. COLT/LONDON.” The first 265 revolvers produced, known as “early models,” have brass grip frames and small, round trigger guards. They are quite rare and worth approximately 50 percent more than the “standard model,” which has a steel grip frame and large oval trigger guard. Note that parts were interchanged between Hartford and London and thus, the presence of a London barrel stamping does not preclude its production in Hartford and vice versa. British versus U.S. proofing stamps are a clue to origin.
Model 1851 Navy .36.
MODEL 1851 NAVY
This is undoubtedly the most popular percussion revolver Colt produced in the medium size and power range. It is a six-shot, .36-cal. percussion revolver with a 7.5 inch octagonal barrel and an attached loading lever weighing 2 lb., 10 oz. with the 6 inch barrel. The basic model has a case colored frame hammer and loading lever, with silver-plated brass grip frame and trigger guard. Early model trigger guards were squared and later models were rounded. Grips are varnished walnut. Colt manufactured more than 215,000 in Hartford and 42,000 in London between 1850 and 1873.
The basic Navy features a roll-engraved cylinder scene of a battle between the navies of Texas and Mexico and is marked with the date May 16, 1843. There are three distinct barrel stampings: serial numbers #1 to #74000, “ADDRESS SAML. COLT NEW YORK CITY”; serial numbers #74001 to #101000 “ADDRESS SAML. COLT HARTFORD, CT.”; and serial numbers #101001 to #215000 “ADDRESS SAML. COLT NEW YORK U.S. AMERICA.” The left side of the frame is stamped “COLT’S/PATENT” on all variations. This model is also available with a detached shoulder stock, and values for the stocks today are nearly as high as for the revolver itself. The number of variations within the 1851 Navy designation – more than 100 from the Hartford and London factories, including one with a 12 inch barrel and peep sights – makes it necessary to read specialized text available on the subject. We furnish values for the major variations but again caution potential purchasers to acquire careful appraisals before a purchase.
Model 1851 Navy, Third Model.
NOTE: This advertisement for an 1851 Navy recently appeared at AntiqueGunList.com:
“1851 Navy, U.S. marked and militarily issued, 90XXX range (1860) and matching except for wedge (which is missing) and arbor pin (which probably was matching but has been shortened and thus SN is gone). Extremely desirable large-guard iron strapped Navy-Navy variation and having the Hartford address, which is very good as are the frame markings
