Colts Model Of 1849 POCKET Percussion Revolver :

- Something for the weekend Sir? ..

I read a lot .. they taught me how to do it at school in the 50s. I have read both that this .31 Caliber gun from Colt is ".. almost forgotten today." and alternatively - that the Uberti reproduction M1849s are very popular, accurate and fun to shoot.

- You may take your pick from the professional writers eh - but by the standard of that era the Pocket Model was regarded as a sturdy and trusty 'manstopper'. 

A Popular Modern Replica 1849 From UBERTI ..

Experts state that this most successful percussion revolver was made by Colts over a 23 year period - starting 1850 - with production numbering around 335,000 units from factories in both U S and England. The appellation "Model 1849" is a label used by modern collectors & enthusiasts.

Sale numbers were doubtless helped by manufacture covering the whole span of the American Civil War period April 1861-April 1865 - with this small pistol being popular as private purchases by combatents of both armies. - Every review about this Model 1849 seems compelled to trot-out the apocryphal legend that this percussion five-shot revolver was carried mainly to prevent battle-field surgeons from over-eagerly amputating damaged limbs. 

Later improved steels led to SIX shot versions being machined without increasing the cylinder's size.

This best seller .31" 'Pocket Model' - 'The Gun That Won the West' - is reputed to have been nicknamed by some 'A Fifth Ace' due to it's popular carry by saloon card gamblers - to smooth the run of the betting.

Good Looking Lads Displaying Their Period Essentials ..

"YOU GONNA PULL THOSE PISTOLS OR WHISTLE DIXIE?"

My "pet point" would be that the projectiles for these .31" Caliber black powder pistols actually measure larger than the later .32" caliber guns ammunition .. but only by a wee bit eh. - These revolvers were nowhere near as powerful as the earlier .44s - BUT they weighed half as much and didn't suffer from ball-creep, where the strong .44" recoil resulted in balls loaded into the chambers shifting forward with each shot to jam the gun by preventing the cylinder rotation .. the .31"s didn't kick as much .. nor blow apart so often either. Original M 1849 barrels have 'Gain Twist Rifling'.

Maybe - after a few beers - I'll admit that the '36" caliber makes a superior black powder arm and that then went on through the ages to become a 'sweet spot' sized cartridge handgun that encompasses the .38 S&W, .38 Special, .357 Magnum and the many other 9mm (.355") sized arms .. but the 'Thirty-Twos' (8mm really) had a lot going for them as early times tools and at the later higher smokeless velocities.

A thirty-one caliber .323 inch ball weighs 50 grains - which is somewhat heavier than a typical .22 Long rifle slug - and it will penetrate to plus or minus 12/13 inches in clear gelatine depending on how much black powder you like to ignite. Conical bullets are naturally heavier again and harder hitting. These 'Pocket Pistols' are small in the hand - and while small caliber, are multi-shot, easily carried and accessed .. being both accurate AND deadly.

Before I go on .. may I bring to your notice 'C&Rsenals' Small Arms Primer No.151 US Colt 1877

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8CkTwrU3IY     .. Which while being about a different, later cartridge gun - is VERY insightful & most interesting about Colts hidden innermost secret family stories.

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Now - these wee pocket pistols would be scorned by some as being underpowered mouseguns - only fit to threaten before running away .. as they throw their 50 grain soft lead balls or 70 grain conicals at around 500 to 700 feet per second or above, producing POWER similar to today's 'two-two' rimfires and perhaps up to the 32 ACP lower levels.

I don't think that those 340,000 free citizen customers used their hard-earned bucks in the day to buy this compact tool because they were deluded - they were bought to serve a useful  purpose ..

The power debate continues (endlessly) of course .. but I insist that a HIT with a small caliber is far more effective than a miss with any magnum.

Colts slightly earlier small .31" percussion revolvers were known as "Baby Patersons" - then the "Baby Dragoons" appeared that developed into this popular model, - which itself was upsized in due course into the .36" caliber ''.Navy Models

The "Wells Fargo" .31" model had to make it's way through the West without the benefit of an under barrel loading lever .. as do too some other versions with the shortest of barrels.

STAGECOACH HOLD-UP Roller Engraving:

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I got one - an ORIGINAL Colt M1849 ...

- love it - here's the other side ..

Five inch barrel, with a fair bit of silver plating still on the brass bits but no blueing or case hardening colour remains. The steel parts have a matt grey/pewter patina appearance. The 'safety' pins at the rear of the cylinder are battered & worn. There is an area (25%?) of bad rust pitting on the cylinder - but for a 165 year old it is in excellent working order eh. - Check-out the foresight, that has been changed sometime from a pin to a blade ..

This sort of forsight blade modification was not uncommon .. perhaps to correct damage to the original short pin - or to lower the usual high point of impact closer to the line of sight.

Grey patina o/a. - strong hammer spring - gain twist rifling - no major damage - suggested 1857 year of manufacture - such a sweet little original revolver I'm well pleased to have it ..

I've seen worse ..

Marty K.