Original Item: Only One Available. The Colt Open Top Pocket Model Revolver was a single action pocket revolver introduced by the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in 1871. Introduced a year before the Colt Open Top (a model from 1872) and two years before the Colt Peacemaker and the Colt New Line (both introduced in 1873), the Colt Open Top Pocket Model Revolver was, alongside the Colt House Revolver, one of the two first metallic cartridge rear-loading revolvers manufactured by Colt's. It also was one of the first pocket metallic cartridge revolvers made by the company.

This fine matured example is only the second that we have ever had, as most seem to have been lost to time. It still retains a good amount of bluing on the barrel and cylinder, while the brass frame has lost virtually all of the original plating, which is fairly typical, as with other firearms of the period. It now displays a lovely "mustard" patina on the frame, and features great highly figured walnut grips, which still retain much of the original "piano varnish" finish used at the time. Matching serial number 69822 is found on the bottom of the grip and underside of the barrel lug, indicating production in 1875, close to the end of production. The barrel measures 2 3/8" and is caliber .22 short, verified by measuring the cylinder, which is too short for .22 Long. The address marking on the top of the barrel is still full legible between the correct cross pattée dingbats:

The left side of the frame has the correct 22 CAL marking, and the revolving wedge moves correctly to allow the barrel to be removed and the gun taken down for cleaning. Overall condition is really quite nice, with a great matured look, with no signs of abuse or excessive wear.

The revolver functions relatively well, cycling and dry firing, but it is definitely finicky. The trigger spring is weak, so the sear often does not engage the tumbler on the hammer, particularly at the half cock position but also at full cock. Holding the pistol nose down alleviates most of these issues. We checked the bore, and it is in very good condition, showing clear lands and grooves with a mostly bright finish. There is some past oxidation and fouling, now removed, so it did see some level of service but was relatively well cared for.

A lovely example of a hard to find Colt Open Top Pocket revolver, ready to add to your collection!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1875
Caliber: .22cal Short
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 2 3/8 inches
Overall Length: 5 5/8 inches
Action: Single
Feed System: 7 Shot Revolver

History and Design of the Colt .22 Open top Revolver:
Designer : William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards
Designed : 1871
Manufacturer: Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company
Produced: 1871-1877
Number built: 114,200

When the Rollin White patent for metallic cartridges firearms manufacture expired (c. 1870) the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company started working on its own metallic cartridge revolvers (Colt had previously been manufacturing the so-called Richards-Mason conversions). Thus, Colt introduced its first rear-loaders in 1871: the Colt House/Cloverleaf and the Colt Open Top Pocket Model Revolver.

In the 1870s the firearms market was awash with cheaply made knockoffs of the .22 caliber Smith & Wesson Model One which sold for about $2. Colt's president Richard Jarvis decided it would not compete directly with the knockoffs; that its .22 would be of Colt quality. The Open Top Pocket was priced at $8.

The frame was brass and sometimes silver or nickel plated. The barrel and cylinder were either blue or nickel plated. Rosewood or walnut grips on a bird's head style frame made for a comfortable pistol to shoot.

Loading was accomplished via a groove in the frame rearward of the cylinder and early models incorporated an ejector rod until 1874. After that, a shooter would need to remove the cylinder to empty the brass casings.

Cheap copies imported from Spain and Belgium drove down the demand for these revolvers and Colt stopped manufacturing them by 1877.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.