Model Index
The Colt Pocket or Baby Model Paterson Revolver No. 1 was manufactured circa 1837 to 1838 in Paterson, New Jersey. A total of approximately 500 were made and serial numbered 1 through 500. This was the smallest revolver manufactured by Samuel Colt. The standard Model is identified as follows.
The Colt Belt Model Paterson Revolver No. 2 was manufactured circa 1837 to 1840 in Paterson, New Jersey. A total of approximately 400 were made and serial numbered 1 through 850 along with the No. 2 Belt Model which shares its serial numbering.
The Colt Belt Model Paterson Revolver No. 3 was manufactured circa 1837 to 1840 in Paterson, New Jersey. A total of approximately 450 were made and serial numbered 1 through 850 along with the No. 2 Belt Model which shares its serial numbering.
The Colt Holster Model Paterson Revolver No. 5 also known as the “Texas Paterson” was manufactured circa 1838 to 1840 in Paterson, New Jersey. A total of approximately 1000 were manufactured serial numbered in its own range from 1 through to 1000.
The Fourth Model Ehlers pocket revolver or Improved No. 1 Pocket Model Small Size Frame is a separate model from the Colt Pocket or Baby Model Paterson Revolver No. 1 revolver. It was manufactured circa 1840 to 1843 in Paterson, New Jersey by John Ehlers who took over the Paterson company after it went bankrupt.
The Fifth Model Ehlers Belt revolver or Improved No. 2 Belt Model Medium Size Frame revolver is a separate model from the Colt Belt Model Paterson Revolver No. 2 revolver. It was manufactured circa 1840 to 1843 in Paterson, New Jersey by John Ehlers who took over the Paterson company after it went bankrupt.
The Colt First Model Ring Lever Rifle was manufactured circa 1837 to 1838 in Paterson, New Jersey. It was Colt’s first production firearm before he started manufacturing his pistols a few months later.
The Colt Second Model Ring Lever Rifle or Model No. 2 Ring Lever Rifle was manufactured circa 1838 to 1841 in Paterson, New Jersey.
The Colt Model 1839 Carbine was manufactured circa 1838 to 1841 in Paterson, New Jersey in .525 smoothbore caliber. It proved to be the most popular of all the Paterson longarms and highly regarded by Sam himself.
The Colt Model 1839 Shotgun was manufactured circa 1839 to 1841 in Paterson, New Jersey. A limited total of approximately 225 were manufactured and serial numbered in their own range from 1 through to about 225.
The Colt Model 1839 Shotgun was manufactured circa 1839 to 1841 in Paterson, New Jersey. A limited total of approximately 225 were manufactured and serial numbered in their own range from 1 through to about 225.
The Colt Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon Revolver also known as the "Transition Walker" was manufactured late in 1847.
The Colt First Model Dragoon Revolver was manufactured circa 1848 through to 1850 with a total of about 7,000 produced. They continued the sequence from the Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon from serial number 1341 through to about 8000.
The production of the Colt Model 1849 Pocket revolver in America commenced in 1850 and continued through to 1873. This was the successor to the Baby Dragoon and a total of approximately 326,000 ’49 Pockets were manufactured at the Hartford factory.
The Colt Model 1849 London Pocket revolver was manufactured at the London factory from circa 1853 through to 1857 with its own serial range from 1 through to approximately 11000. The quality of the London Pocket was thought to be better than its American counterpart.
The majority of revolvers were blued with casehardened hammer and loading lever. The grips were of one-piece varnished walnut or select burl walnut, ivory on engraved or special order guns. The most sought after grips came from the famous Charter Oak tree.
The Colt Model 1855 Root Side-hammer percussion Pocket Revolver was manufactured from 1855 through to 1870 in both .28 and .31 caliber. It was designed by Samuel Colt even-though it was named after Elisha K. Root who was Colt’s factory foreman and general superintendent.
The Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon Revolver was manufactured in Hartford from circa l847 through to 1850 with a total of about 15,000 produced. Serial numbers are found on all major parts and range from 1 through to about 15500 overlapping with the Colt Model 1849 Pocket.
The Colt Model 1851 London revolver was manufactured in London at Samuel Colt’s only manufacturer outside the U.S. from 1853 through to 1857. The revolvers were numbered in their own serial range from serial number 1 through to 42,910.
The Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver was introduced in 1850 and manufactured through to 1873. As many as 215,348 of this model were produced at the Hartford factory in Connecticut with serial numbers beginning at serial number I through to 215348 which is the highest number known.
This model was the first production longarm made at the Hartford factory. It was manufactured circa 1856 to 1859 with a total of approximately one thousand being made serial numbered from 1 to 1000.
Between one thousand and fifteen hundred Half Stock Sporting rifles were manufactured circa 1857 to 1864. Most were made in .36 and .44 caliber with a few manufactured in .40 and .50 caliber.
Approximately 9,310 examples of this model were manufactured circa 1856 to 1864 at the Hartford factory. They came with a six shot fluted cylinder for the .44 caliber and a five shot fluted cylinder for the .56 caliber.
An estimated total of only 4,435 were manufactured in the Hartford factory circa 1856 to 1864. On the .36 and .44 caliber carbines the barrel address on the top-strap reads ’COLT'S PT. / 1856 and ADDRESS COL. COLT/HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.’ and on .56 caliber carbines it reads ‘COL, COLT HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.’.
An estimated total of only 1,100 were manufactured in the Hartford factory circa 1860 to 1863. They were serial numbered in their own range from 1 to 1100. The ten gauge barrel address on the topstrap reads ‘COL. COLT HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.’.
A total of approximately 200,800 Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver were manufactured at the Hartford factory from circa 1860 through to circa 1873. They were serial numbered in their own range from 1 through to about 200800.
The Colt Model 1861 Navy Revolver was a streamlined version of the Model 1851 Navy. It was manufactured from 1861 through to circa 1873 in a serial range from 1 through to approx. 38843.. It came in 36 caliber with a six shot cylinder and 7½ inch round barrel with a creeping style loading lever.
The Colt Model 1862 Police Percussion Revolver was manufactured from 1861 through to circa 1873 in their own serial range from serial number 1 through to approx. 47000. The Police was in 36 caliber with a five shot rebated and half fluted cylinder.
The re-classified Colt Pocket Model 1865 of Navy Caliber percussion revolver or Pocket Navy was previously known to collectors as the "Model of 1853" or the "Model 1862 Pocket Navy". It is now more correctly termed as the heading or as the "Pocket Model of Navy Caliber" or merely "Pocket Navy."
The re-classified Colt Pocket Model 1865 of Navy Caliber percussion revolver or Pocket Navy was previously known to collectors as the "Model of 1853" or the "Model 1862 Pocket Navy". It is now more correctly termed as the heading or as the "Pocket Model of Navy Caliber" or merely "Pocket Navy."
The small frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifles were produced from 1887 to 1904. They were chambered for 22 Caliber and accepted long, short, or a combination of long and short cartridges. The small frame had basically the same slide action as the medium frame but with internal differences in construction and loading.
The first model of the Colt Lightning Magazine Rifles and Carbines with a slide action was a medium frame and was produced in 1883. This model is easy to identify, as it has no dust cover and is fitted with a safety bolt locking device that is operated with a lever in a slot in the forward part of the trigger guard.
The large frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifles and Carbines were basically the same as the medium and small frame but with some internal differences to accept the larger cartridges. Both rifle and carbine were chambered for 38-56-255, 40-60-260, 45-60-300, 45-85-285, and 50-95-300 Express Caliber.
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The re-classified Colt Pocket Model 1865 of Navy Caliber percussion revolver or Pocket Navy was previously known to collectors as the "Model of 1853" or the "Model 1862 Pocket Navy". It is now more correctly termed as the heading or as the "Pocket Model of Navy Caliber" or merely "Pocket Navy."
The small frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifles were produced from 1887 to 1904. They were chambered for 22 Caliber and accepted long, short, or a combination of long and short cartridges. The small frame had basically the same slide action as the medium frame but with internal differences in construction and loading.
The first model of the Colt Lightning Magazine Rifles and Carbines with a slide action was a medium frame and was produced in 1883. This model is easy to identify, as it has no dust cover and is fitted with a safety bolt locking device that is operated with a lever in a slot in the forward part of the trigger guard.
The large frame Colt Lightning Magazine Rifles and Carbines were basically the same as the medium and small frame but with some internal differences to accept the larger cartridges. Both rifle and carbine were chambered for 38-56-255, 40-60-260, 45-60-300, 45-85-285, and 50-95-300 Express Caliber.