In 1861 Colt introduced two new pocket model revolvers in their more powerful .36 caliber chambering. Until that time, all of Colt’s “Pocket” guns had been .31 caliber, or in the case of some of the Root revolver production, .28 caliber. These new pocket revolvers can be considered “scaled up” 1849 Pocket Models or scaled down Belt Pistols (aka “Navy” models), as the guns had features of both their smaller and larger siblings. The two new models were known as the Model 1862 Police and the Model 1862 Pocket Revolver of Navy Caliber. The “Police” model resembled a scaled down, early production Colt Model 1861 New Model Belt (Navy) revolver, built on a Colt Model 1849 Pocket frame. The .36 caliber revolver had a five shot fluted cylinder and the grip frame and triggerguard were of Colt Pocket size and style. It had a round barrel, a creeping loading lever and was available in 3 ½”, 4 ½”, 5 ½” and 6 ½” barrel lengths. The Pocket Navy was essentially a scaled down Model 1851 Navy built on a Model 1849 Pocket frame, with a .36 caliber, 5 shot, rebated round cylinder that was roll engraved with the same Stagecoach Hold Up scene used on the Model 1849 Pocket. Like the Police model, it used a pocket-sized frame and triggerguard but had an octagonal barrel and conventional swinging link loading lever like those used on the Model 1849 and Model 1851 revolvers. Like the Police, it was available in four different barrel lengths ranging from 3 ½” to 6 ½”, in 1” increments. The standard finish for both revolvers was blued barrels and cylinders, color casehardened frames and silver-plated brass backstraps, gripstraps and triggerguards. A few of the early production “Police” revolvers were produced with iron grip frames and triggerguards, which were silver plated as well, but these are only found on very low number, early production revolvers. Early production revolvers will be found with the desirable Hartford barrel address, but the majority of the production carried the typical one-line New York barrel address. Although both models are referred to with the model date of 1862, both went into production in 1861, and would remain in production until the end of the Colt percussion era in 1873. During that time some 47,000 of both models would be produced, manufactured concurrently, and utilizing the same serial number series, regardless of model. According to Colt researcher and author R.L Wilson, it is believed that about 60% of the total production of the two models was of the 1862 Police pattern, which would be approximately 28,200 guns, produced over about the 13-year production period. Compared to the Colt Pocket, with about 331,000 produced, this makes the 1862 Police a much less common gun, with only one being manufactured for about every eleven Model 1849 Pocket Models. 

The Colt Model 1862 Police Revolver offered here is in about VERY GOOD+ condition. The revolver has a 4 ½” barrel that made it easy to carry and conceal.  It has the typical fluted cylinder of the 1862 Police model and is serial numbered 2233, placing its production in early 1861. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard single line single line New York address that reads:

ADDRESS COL SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA

The lower left side of the frame, forward of the cylinder is marked in two lines:

COLTS

PATENT

The left rear web of the triggerguard is marked with an L mark, a Colt factory inspector’s mark. Later on, during production the marking “36 CAL” would be placed there to avoid any confusion that might arise and make the user think it was a .31 caliber pocket revolver. As the gun is an early production example there is a patent date marking in the cylinder flutes, which reads

PAT. SEPT. 10^TH 1850

The cylinder serial number is 2233 stamped in an opposing flute. The matching serial number 2233 appears throughout the revolver and is present on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, triggerguard, arbor pin and butt. As noted, it is also present on the cylinder. The wedge is numbered 2238, which has to be a factory error, as the “3” and “8” are very similar looking dies. The grip appears to be serial numbered to the gun as well, although the period ink number is very difficult to read. The fit and condition of the grip suggest it is certainly original to the gun. The revolver retains some of its original blued finish, probably about 10%-15% over all or possibly slightly more. The strongest areas of bright blue are found in protected areas. These include under the barrel where the loading lever has protected the finish and in the cylinder flutes. The frame retains about 30% of its mottled casehardened coloring, again mostly in protected areas. The gun has a moderately oxidized mottled plum brown patina mixed with scattered flecks of surviving blue and case coloring and this makes the gun appear to retain more finish than it really does. The metal is mostly smooth with scattered freckled patches of surface roughness and some scattered areas of light to pitting here and there. The pitting is most prevalent on the left side of the barrel near the muzzle, around the face of the muzzle, on the forward portion of the loading lever, on the face of the cylinder and on the rear face of the cylinder in the percussion cone recesses. The gun has a really lovely, untouched appearance and does not appear to have been cleaned in modern times. The bore of the revolver is in about VERY GOOD+ to FINE condition. It is mostly bright with some scattered oxidation and small areas of scattered pitting with crisp strong rifling along its length. The original truncated cone brass front sight is in place on the top of the barrel, near the muzzle. The creeping loading lever retains some strong traces of its case coloring on the web, with the balance of the lever having taken on a plum brown patina with some scattered areas of bluish mottling. The loading lever functions smoothly and correctly and locks securely into place under the barrel when not in use.  All of the original cones remain in place and show some wear but remain fairly crisp and completely usable. The original safety pins on the rear face of the cylinder are all in place and all show moderate amounts of wear and some battering. The hammer retains some muted traces of its case coloring with much of the hammer having a richly oxidized plum patina. The brass grip frame and triggerguard retain some strong traces of tarnished silver plating, again mostly in the protected areas. The exposed brass has a lightly oxidized rich golden patina. The revolver is in FINEcondition mechanically and times and indexes as it should. The action remains relatively crisp and tight. The one-piece walnut grip is in about FINE condition and are free of any breaks, cracks, or repairs. The grip retains about 75%+ of its original varnish, which shows some thinning, wear, and loss. The most apparent wear and loss is along the sharp edges at the base of the grip, but even this wear is light. The grip does show some lightly scattered small dings, rubs and mars, but nothing indicative of abuse, just some carry, handling, and use. As noted above, the grip is serial numbered to the gun in period ink in the backstrap cut out.

Overall, this is very nice and desirable example of an early production Colt Model 1862 Police revolver, produced in 1861. Although the gun shows some moderate wear and finish loss with some scattered oxidation overall, it still remains crisp, with very nice grips and is mechanically functional. The 1862 Police is literally ten times less common than the 1849 Pocket and in my opinion is a much more aesthetically pleasing revolver than the 1849 model it was partially derived from. Due to their overall production numbers, these guns do not appear on the market with the same frequency as the 1849 Pocket and 1851 Navy. This an extremely nice example of Civil War era .36 Colt Police revolver that will be a good addition to your collection of Colt percussion revolvers or Civil War era handguns.

ON HOLD