Help Identify this old Colt Revolver

[Captains1911]

I recently inherited this gun, which is in pretty bad shape and falling apart, that I am trying to identify. I’m fairly certain it’s a US Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion. However, my research tells me that model was produced between 1860 - 1873, and this one has “1875” stamped in at least four places on the bottom. I’m not sure there is an 1875 Colt model, but I’m no expert by any means. Any help with this would be appreciated.

 

[BobWright]

"1875" is not the date, but an assembly number. From your photo it is indeed an 1860 Model.

Bob Wright

 

[Captains1911]

"1875" is not the date, but an assembly number. From your photo it is indeed an 1860 Model.

Bob Wright

Assembly number, interesting. Is there any significance to that particular assembly number?

 

[dfariswheel]

Colt stamped the actual serial number in those two places....On the front of the trigger guard and on the lower-front frame. Colt continued this on single action firearms, and still does this on the Single Actions today.
Colt did not use assembly numbers on muzzle loading revolvers. That apparently began with the Model 1888 New Navy double actions.
1875 is the actual serial number.

It appears to be a Colt 1862 Pocket Police. made in 1861. (Production began in 1861 in spite of the model name).

An 1860 Army is a larger revolver and in .44 caliber, six shot.
The Pocket Police was a .36 caliber, 5 shot.
Early models were stamped "Address Saml Colt/Hartford CT".
These had silver plated iron trigger guard and backstrap. Later models had silvered brass parts.

 

[Captains1911]

It appears to be a Colt 1862 Pocket Police. made in 1861. (Production began in 1861 in spite of the model name).

I think this is correct. The Model 1860 didn’t have cylinder flutes like this one does.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Yup, 1862 Police. Fluted cylinder, small frame.

 

[J-Bar]

A 1862 Police with serial number 1875 dates to 1861, according to this online reference:

Find Colt Serial Number

Find historical information on your Colt firearm using our serial number look up search tool. Colt Pistols, Revolvers and rifles are all sought after by serious collectors who value the historical data behind these firearms, our tool helps find that information.

coltparts.com

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

First off, the Colt 1860 Army was a large, six shot, 44 caliber revolver.

Like this Pietta replica of the 1860 Army.

Yes, the 1860 Army did come in a version with fluted cylinders, but the flutes extended the entire length of the cylinder, unlike the OP's revolver.


The 1862 Police revolver was a FIVE shot, 36 caliber revolver. Smaller than the 1860 Colt, hence only five shots. But the 1862 Police revolver did have a similar, aesthetically pleasing loading lever assembly as the 1860 Army, so confusion is understandable. The 1862 Police came with 3.5", 4.5", 5.5" or 6.5" round barrels.

That is the correct location for a Colt serial number, it is not an assembly number. Assembly numbers were stamped on various parts after soft fitting and prior to finishing, so the parts could be reassembled with the proper mating parts.


Here is a photo from Uberti's webpage showing the difference in size between their replicas of the 1860 Army at top and the 1862 Police at the bottom.

 

[GRIZ22]

As bad as it may seem, DONT TRY TO CLEAN IT UP!!! Collectors want the full patina.

 

[Captains1911]

As bad as it may seem, DONT TRY TO CLEAN IT UP!!! Collectors want the full patina.

I won’t be attempting to clean it at all, nor do I have any interest in selling it. But out of curiosity, how much would someone guess it’s worth in this shape? The hammer spur is broken off, missing screws, frame broken to where it feels like it could break into two pieces, rusted all over, etc. It is a shame for sure.

 

[Mk VII]

Not a lot, in that condition. There are many out there, and most of them better than that.
Edit: the Hartford address might bring a slight premium.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I won’t be attempting to clean it at all, nor do I have any interest in selling it. But out of curiosity, how much would someone guess it’s worth in this shape? The hammer spur is broken off, missing screws, frame broken to where it feels like it could break into two pieces, rusted all over, etc. It is a shame for sure.

The frame's probably not broken, per se. The front and rear halves are held together by the wedge through the center axis pin. These wedges (and their mating slots) wear and get loose over time.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

That barrel doesn't look like it fits that frame. The loading lever doesn't reach the detant it clicks into, but the cylinder is tight against the forcing cone of the barrel.
Something's not right there.
If it were that loose that the loading lever doesn't reach the detant, I would think I would see a gap between the cylinder and the forcing cone.
I think you have a barrel off of some other Colt, on a different frame.

 

[Captains1911]

That barrel doesn't look like it fits that frame. The loading lever doesn't reach the detant it clicks into, but the cylinder is tight against the forcing cone of the barrel.
Something's not right there.
If it were that loose that the loading lever doesn't reach the detant, I would think I would see a gap between the cylinder and the forcing cone.
I think you have a barrel off of some other Colt, on a different frame.

Does this look better? Like I said, this thing is a falling apart piece of junk, sadly.

 

[J-Bar]

If you inherited it from a loved one and it has sentimental value to you, include this in a shadow box of memories of that person. If it has no sentimental value to you, wait for the next gun buy-back program and get what you can.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

That looks better, that's the trouble with a picture instead of having it in my hands. It's definitely seen better days but they could talk the stories they could tell!

 

[Captains1911]

If you inherited it from a loved one and it has sentimental value to you, include this in a shadow box of memories of that person. If it has no sentimental value to you, wait for the next gun buy-back program and get what you can.

My father-in-law gave it to me, and someone gave it to him years ago. He doesn't really know anything about. So no sentimental value really. I will be hanging it on the wall for decoration.

 

[hawg]

That barrel doesn't look like it fits that frame. The loading lever doesn't reach the detant it clicks into, but the cylinder is tight against the forcing cone of the barrel.
Something's not right there.
If it were that loose that the loading lever doesn't reach the detant, I would think I would see a gap between the cylinder and the forcing cone.
I think you have a barrel off of some other Colt, on a different frame.

The serial number on the barrel matches so it is the original barrel. The cylinder arbor bottoms out in the arbor hole so the forcing cone should never touch the cylinder no matter how badly the wedge is worn. If it is touching then something is hinky in the arbor length. I don't think it would take much to get the old girl up and running again. If it was mine I'd send it to 45Dragoon. He specializes in open top Colt's and clones.

 

[Captains1911]

If it was mine I'd send it to 45Dragoon. He specializes in open top Colt's and clones.

Please elaborate. 45Dragoon?

 

[hawg]

Please elaborate. 45Dragoon?

@45 Dragoon He's a member here. He works on Colt revolvers. He specializes in customizing reproductions to be more reliable and smoother but he also works on originals.

 

[HKGuns]

Don't scrape sand or polish anything.

The best thing you could do to that pistol is boil and carding wheel it. You may be surprised how much of the original finsh is still there.

 

[Captains1911]

@45 Dragoon He's a member here. He works on Colt revolvers. He specializes in customizing reproductions to be more reliable and smoother but he also works on originals.

Thanks for the info, I’ll message him.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

It would be VERY cool to see the old girl up and running again!

 

[Speedo66]

Curious, what is the bore like?

Does the action still cock and drop the hammer under spring pressure when the trigger is pulled?

 

[Captains1911]

Curious, what is the bore like?

Does the action still cock and drop the hammer under spring pressure when the trigger is pulled?

Bore is terrible, action is seized up, the hammer spur is even broken off.