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COLT NEW MODEL 1862 POLICE REVOLVER

In 1861 Colt introduced two new pocket model revolvers in the 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 both guns had features of their smaller and larger siblings. The two new models were known as the Model 1862 Police and the Model 1862 Pocket Navy. 

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 that was also built on a Model 1849 Pocket frame, with a .36 caliber, five 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-barrel lengths ranging from 3 ½” to 6 ½”, in 1” increments. The standard finish for both revolvers was blued barrels and cylinders, color case hardened frames and silver-plated brass backstraps, grip-straps and triggerguards. A few of the revolvers were produced with iron grip frames and triggerguards, which were also silver plated, but these are only found on very low number, early production guns. Early production revolvers will be found with the desirable Hartford barrel address, but the majority of the production carried the typical 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 47000 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 28200 guns, produced over about the thirteen-year production period. Compared to the Colt Pocket, with about 331,000 guns produced, this makes the 1862 Police a much less common gun, with only one being manufactured for about every eleven Model 1849 Pocket Models. 

Excellent cased Colt New Model 1862 Police

The Colt Model 1862 Police Revolver described here is in about Excellent+ condition. The revolver is serial number 18461 and was produced in 1863. The revolver has a 6 ½ inch barrel and the typical fluted cylinder of the 1862 Police Model. The top of the barrel is marked in a single line with the usual New York address and reads:

ADDRESS COL SAM^L COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA

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

COLT’S
PATENT

and one of the cylinder flutes is marked:

PAT. SEPT. 10^TH 1850

The matching serial number 18461 appears throughout the revolver. It is present on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, triggerguard and butt. The last four digit of the serial number also appears on the wedge, arbor-pin, back of the cylinder and inside the grip frame cut out of the one-piece grip in period ink. While early Pocket Police revolvers had their cylinders numbered in one of the flutes like the early “Fluted” Army revolvers, the later production guns were numbered on the rear of the cylinder.

The revolver has almost all of its original finish, with about 95%+ of the original high polish blue present. The frame retains all of its case colors. The bore of the revolver is in new like condition, the cylinder chamber have almost all of its original blue left inside. The creeping loading lever retains almost all of its case coloring. The loading lever functions smoothly and correctly and locks securely into place under the barrel when not in use. The rebated fluted cylinder retains about 95% original blue all of the original cones remain in place, the safety pins on the rear face of the cylinder are all there. The hammer retain all of its case coloring. The brass grip frame and triggerguard retain some of their original silver-plated finish, the exposed brass has an attractive golden patina. The revolver is in Like New condition mechanically and times, indexes and locks up tightly. The action remains crisp, and the revolver operates exactly as it should. The one-piece walnut grip is in Excellent+condition and is free of any breaks, cracks, or repairs. The grip retains about all of its original varnish.

The original Colt Factory case includes the original 250 Eley Bros Colt’s Patent Cap Tin, an original empty packet of Colts Patent New Model Police Pistol envelope cartridges, Colt’s patent bullet mold marked .36P, correct Colts Patent Police type powder flask and a Colt L-shaped nipple wrench/ screwdriver tool. All in very fine condition.

Overall, this is very attractive and desirable example of a mid-Civil War production Colt Model 1862 Police revolver, produced in 1863. The gun remains fairly crisp, is mechanically like new and retains 95%+ original finish. The 1862 Police is literally ten times less common than the 1849 Pocket, so the chances to obtain a nice example come along very rarely. This is a very attractive example of a .36 Colt Police that will be a nice addition to any collection of Colt percussion revolvers or Civil War era handguns.
High quality guns like this are rare and very hard to find.

P.O.R.