Original Item: Only One Available. Just received out of a very well curated old collection! Here is a very rare and unusual Colt Pocket Percussion Revolver, commonly referred to as the M-1855 Root. It features an external side hammer on the right side of the frame, with a 5 shot .31 caliber cylinder. We have only had two of these previously, and only one in the larger .31 chambering. These are exceedingly rare, as their delicate action would often break, and the revolvers were then disposed due to the high cost of repair. Like many Colt revolvers, they were available with several barrel lengths, and this example is fitted with a 3 ½" barrel.

The early pattern fluted cylinder is marked on the side: PATENTED SEPT. 10th 1850, and the top of the barrel has the standard colt address in two lines:

It is small and always suffered from being so very delicate, with the action easily damaged due to the minimized size. It was a great favorite with women and for those interested in carrying a concealed piece of "artillery". The serial number of our example is # 5855, which is present on the bottom of the grip frame and under the barrel, which dates its manufacture to 1856. We did not check the back of the cylinder, as the arbor pin release is not currently working, and we did not want to risk damaging it.

The revolver displays a worn gray patina in most areas, with some evidence of past peppering under the barrel and on the cylinder. There is some of the original bluing present in the cylinder flutes between the chambers, as well as in the recessed areas on the sides of the frame. The grip is in great shape, still retaining some of the original varnish, and looks to be made of beautiful figured American black walnut.

The action on this example is actually still fully functional, with just a bit of the usual finicky behavior we often see. It indexes well, with a strong dry fire, though if you release the hammer slowly the cylinder can roll back a bit. Letting the hammer move forward freely doesn't seem to cause issues in cycling, though the hammer is just a bit off center. These are very rare to see in fully functional condition, so it should be handled with care to avoid excessive wear to the action.

To make this offering even better, it came to us with a fantastic custom wood case, which measures approximately 9 ⅝" x 5 ⅝" x 1 ¾", and has different compartments inside, all red velvet lined. These are for various accessories one might use with the pistol, including a small U.S. themed E PLURIBUS UNUM marked powder flask, a ramrod / cleaning rod with a removable brass end cap, and even a small case of used caps. There is even a brass bullet mold with inlets for round and conical tipped bullets, which still has freshly molded bullets inside! The case is lovely, and actually still has a functional lock in the front, along with the key to use it! We almost never see these with functional locks. It shows wear to the interior, and definitely has held the pistol for quite some time!

A great example of a rare early Colt revolver, complete in a great case with accessories! This will make a great addition to any collection!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1856
Caliber: .31cal
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 3 ½ inches
Overall Length: 8 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 5 Shot Revolver

History of the Colt "Root" Model 1855 Percussion Pistols:

The Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer, also known as the Colt Root Revolver after engineer Elisha K. Root (1808–1865), was a cap & ball single-action pocket revolver used during the American Civil War and made by the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company in two calibers: .28 and .31.

In the revolver configuration of the patented revolving mechanism, only one model of revolver was produced. The only two available calibers for the revolver were .28 and .31. The production of the revolver started in 1855 and lasted until 1870. In spite of the complexity and ambition of its patented design, the Sidehammer revolver never reached the status of a popular gun. It was however very influential on later colt designs, and the revolving mechanism was used in all of colt's revolving rifles.

In 1855 the Sidehammer was the first Colt's revolver to use the "creeping" loading lever. This loading mechanism was used again in 1860 in the design of the Colt Army Model 1860, the Colt Navy Model 1861 and the Colt Police Model 1862.

In 1855 the Sidehammer was the first Colt's solid-frame spur-trigger gun. This anatomical characteristic was taken again when the three models of the Colt Derringer started production in 1870. For the two first models production lasted in 1890, and the third model ended in 1912 (until it was re-released in the 1950s for western movies, under the name of fourth model Colt Deringer). But in the Colt Deringers the solid-frame spur-triger design was still present in the patent when Colt's purchased the National Arms Company in 1870. Actual original Colt models subsequent to the Sidehammer and inheriting a solid frame and a spur trigger were the Colt House (1871) and the Colt New Line (1873)

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