Original Colt 1849 Pocket??

[kej1131]

Dear friends,

Can you help me find out about this Colt 1849 is an original or a replica. The barrel inside indicates having shot with black powder. The diameter of most of the screws is 0.162 inch.

Best regards

Knud E. Joergensen

 

[kej1131]

More pictures of Colt 1849

 

[kej1131]

And more pictures

 

[PetahW]

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It appears to be an original Colt, that has a non-matching SN on the gripframe (at a minimum), & an old refinish over a poor polishing job.


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[kej1131]

More pictures of Colt 1849 SN

Value?

 

[Doc Hoy]

Hmmmm...

The markings, if they are fake were done very convincingly. The nipples look recent. Haven't a clue about value.

 

[Hawg]

The cylinder isn't original to the gun, the wedge screw is wrong, The trigger guard screw is either loose or the wrong one and the barrel has had the sight dovetailed in. All of those will reduce value considerably.

 

[Fingers McGee]

Cylinder is probably original although nipples look new. Has SN that matches rest of gun and is high enough that the 49s came with either 5 or 6 shot cylinders. Wedge and screw could have been replacements, it was probably refinished - time frame unknown. It has definitely not been a safe queen all its life.

Oh. by SN, it was made in 1863.

 

[Hawg]

Cylinder is probably original

Not saying it isn't an original but the numbers don't match.

 

[gyvel]

"It appears to be an original Colt, that has a non-matching SN on the gripframe (at a minimum), & an old refinish over a poor polishing job."

Which part isn't matched? All the parts. barrel, receiver, trigger plate and grip frame all look like 243100. Did I miss something?

FWIW, the cylinder looks like a renumber. Could be original or could be a replica.

 

[Fingers McGee]

FWIW, the cylinder looks like a renumber. Could be original or could be a replica.

Has to be an original. None of the replica makers make a six shot .31 cal cylinder for Colt's Pocket Model.

 

[PetahW]

Which part isn't matched? All the parts. barrel, receiver, trigger plate and grip frame all look like 243100. Did I miss something?

IMO, the cylinder SN stamping looks incomplete / bogus.


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[Fingers McGee]

1849 Pocket models had a two line serial number stamping. First line said "Colt's Patent", second line had "No. X--X" where X--X would be at most the last 5 digits of the serial number. The stamping on this gun is correct.

 

[James K]

I am sure that the gun is original, but it has seen a lot of use and was likely rusted before being heavily polished and given a quick and dirty bluing job.

The cylinder did not have the full serial if it exceeded 5 digits, so 43100 would be correct for serial number 243100. The number is in the correct position. Those numbers were heavily stamped, while the "scene" was roll engraved and is quite light. It is normal for the number to survive refinishing that will remove the cylinder engraving, and that appears to be the case here.

Frankly, the gun is in such poor condition that I think a fake is pretty well ruled out. (Why fake a poor condition, low value gun?)

Colt made a whole lot of those guns and IMHO one in that condition is only worth about $300-400.

Jim

 

[gyvel]

IMO, the cylinder SN stamping looks incomplete / bogus.

I agreed with that. As I stated: " FWIW, the cylinder looks like a renumber."

 

[Hawg]

I read the number as something entirely different the first time. Guess my eyes were screwy that day.