In 1861 Colt introduced two new pocket model revolvers in their more powerful .36 caliber chambering. Until that time, all of Colt’s “Pocket” revolvers had been .31 caliber, or in the case of some of the Root revolver production, .28 caliber. These new pocket revolvers could 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 chambered 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, five chambered, 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 toggle 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 U.S. America” barrel address. Although both models are referred to with the model date of 1862, both appear to have gone 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 FINE 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 2477, 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 stamped on the rear face of the cylinder, rather than in an opposing flute, as found on the earliest production examples of these guns. Interestingly I previously owned Colt Police #2233 and that gun had the serial number in the flue, so the transition in serial number location apparently happened between #2233 and #2477. The matching serial number 2477 appears throughout the revolver and is present on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, triggerguard, arbor pin, butt and on the wedge. As noted, it is also present on the rear face of cylinder. The grip is clearly numbered 2477 in a bold period hand in period ink. The revolver retains much of its original blued finish, probably about 60%+ overall. The barrel retains about 70%+ of its blue, with strongest areas of bright blue found on the protected areas of the barrel and on the barrel web. Much of the loss appears to be from fading, thinning and wear associated with pocket carry and some patches of surface oxidation and minor surface roughness are present on the barrel, particularly on the right side. The barrel also shows some minor impact marks and dings, the most noticeable one being through the “A” and “M” in the name “SAML”. The cylinder retains about 40% of its blued finish, with the strongest areas of bright blue in the cylinder flues. The frame retains a similar amount of its mottled casehardened coloring, probably 65%+ with the colors slightly more prevalent and vibrant on the left side of the frame. Again, the loss is primarily due to fading and dulling, likely from carry and use. The hammer retains about 85%+ vibrant case coloring with some freckles of surface oxidation and discoloration. The loading lever has a much more muted appearance with only traces of vibrance and a more mottled smoky blue-gray appearance. The metal of the revolver is mostly smooth with some scattered freckled patches of surface roughness on the barrel as noted and some scattered areas of light pitting here and there, most noticeable on the face of the muzzle. The frame and wedge screws on the left side of the gun retain about 85%+ bright fire blue and are quite striking. The grip screws retain somewhat less bright fire blue and are more muted in appearance, with about 60% bright blue remaining. The brass grip frame and triggerguard retain the majority of their silver plating, again about 60% plus. Some of the silver is darkly tarnished, most notably at the frame junction above the grip, on the butt and around the triggerguard. The largest area of largest wear and loss is on the backstrap, where exposed brass has a lightly oxidized rich golden patina. 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. 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 all show moderate to heavy amounts of wear and battering, with only the round bases being visible for most of them. The revolver is in FINE condition 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 fairly 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 attractive and desirable example of an early production Colt Model 1862 Police revolver, produced in 1861. The gun shows some wear and finish loss with some scattered oxidation overall from real world use, but still remains very 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. In fact, Colt Model 1862 Police may be the most attractive of the percussion revolvers produced by Colt. 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