Colt 1860 army conversion revolver liveauctioneers. It is not actually a percussion gun which was converted. The colt model 1862 police conversion was intended for security personnel and followed the line of other colt products emerging during this time of history. About 28,000 were produced but, because they shared serial numbering with the 1862 pocket navy, specimens will be found with serial numbers through about 47000. Please click on the more information button for more details and to read the caution statements. This is a richards conversion based on the 1860 army colt. So the gun in boges link is one of those, built brand new at colt as a. Colt model 1862 police cartridge conversion for sale. Conversion cylinders taylors conversion cylinder line offers an easy conversion option from black powder to smokeless ammunition. The reclassified 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. The various conversion systems used by colt are known as the thuer, followed by. Colt offered it as a conversion on the 1849 pocket, 1851 and 1861 navy, 1860 army by far the most common version, pocket pistol of navy caliber. The top barrel flat is marked with the oneline new york u.
When i needed information on whitney conversions, i was able to find it in this book. Shooting and showing the navy colt richards mason cartridge conversion, as well as giving an overview of the cartridge conversion revolvers of the 1860s and 1870s. Could blondie have had such a gun in 1862, the ostensible date of the movie, when everyone else was using cap and ball. The single largest batch of altered, converted or remanufactured revolvers were in the 1862 police and pocket navy sizes, all altered to. The first metallic cartridge revolver made by colt was the thuerconversion model revolver, a design that would not require a cylinder with cylindrical chambers so as not to infringe on the rollin white patent. This is a very early gun being serial number 651 and has a hartford barrel address. It shoots very nicely, a little high at 25 yards but not nearly as much as the large frame colts. Colt richards conversion 1860 army forgotten weapons. Police 1862 model pocket models percussion revolvers. It was the first commercial repeating firearm to employ a revolving cylinder with multiple chambers aligned with a single, stationary barrel. A stunning little 62 police cartridge conversion utilizing the pocket navy solid cylinder. This left them limited to their percussion revolvers, the 1849, 1851, 1860, and 1862 models in particular. In the book he adequately addresses the model 1853 as being a misnomer and further states that it had to have been produced after the colt pocket police. Colt produced 24,000 cartridge revolvers on this midsized frame between 1873 and 1881.
It shoots very nicely, a little high at 25 yards but. The cylinder was cut down to remove the nipple area at the rear, and a new ratchet was formed. Blue book has a black powder book that contains a lot more information, and i think more sn information. One of the hidden gems of research pate uncovered is that colts death in 1862, and a devastating factory fire two years later were not the. It fits my hand ok, but is a bit small in the grips. I like the colt conversions with ejection rod very much and just wonder why i do see 1862 police pockets, 1851 and 1860 models with and without the ejector rods and loading gates but i cant seem to find a single picture of a real antique 1849 pocket with ejector rod. This example has the 4 12 inch octagon barrel without an ejector.
In thuer conversion, the empty casing is ejected by before barrel while striking. 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. Sn range not stated these are, i think, the signature models. While it covers colt revolvers thoroughly, it also includes many of the other revolvers of that period.
It is now more correctly termed as the heading or as the pocket model of navy caliber or merely pocket navy. The cartridge it fired became known as the 44 colt. Colt model 1862 police cartridge conversion revolver. Colt would have better done to listen to white instead of transferring it. Revolvers made prior to 2002 may need to have the cylinder fitted by howell arms. These were phenomenally popular guns, but quickly becoming obsolete in the face of. Colt produced 24,000 cartridge revolvers on this midsized frame between 1873 and 1881, with at least 5 model variations and configurations.
Get more enjoyment out your revolver by having more options. The colt 1862 police percussion revolver is considered by many collectors as the epitome in development of the cap and ball revolvers. Howell old west conversions cylinders and back plates are made from certified 4150 arsenal grade steel for insuring strength and durability. Thuer conversion colt 1849 at james d julia forgotten weapons. Bruce mcdowell who wrote the conversion book some y. The left side of the frame is marked with the twolinetwodate patent information, and 36 cal. After the arrival of that first cartridge firing revolver colt would produce the 1860 army. Colt pocket model 1865 of navy caliber percussion revolver. Only around 2000 of these were done at the factory. National firearms museum senior curator phil schreier in a clip from the last curators corner of july 2012. Colt converted the models army 1860, navy 1851 and 1861, pocket 1849, pocket off navy caliber, police 1862. The gunsmith also had a spare barrel with a defect far down its 8. To keep things simpler for todays shooters, the cimarron cartridge conversions are supplied with the 1851 navy using standard.
Even though sam colt died in 1862, colt continued to concentrate on percussion revolvers as well they might since they had a large government contract for the 1860 army. Historical holsters old west leather, buckles, cowboy. While we call this a conversion out of habit, the serial number on this gun would indicate that it was originally assembled at the factory as a cartridge gun. Since it was offered both on new built revolvers and as an alteration of customers personal revolvers, no hard numbers on the total thuer population. In it i pegged eastwoods sidearm as an 1858 remington cartridge conversion, but according to an article in the new issue of american rifleman by angus mcclellan, it was an 1851 colt navy conversion in. Oct 22, 2010 in it i pegged eastwoods sidearm as an 1858 remington cartridge conversion, but according to an article in the new issue of american rifleman by angus mcclellan, it was an 1851 colt navy conversion in. Samuel colt was born in hartford, connecticut on july 19, 1814. This conversion cylinder will allow you to convert your 1851 navy or 1860 army pietta. Holster with belt rig knife, bowie style with stag handle and nickel hilt. We are extremely proud to offer this seldom seen early colt rimfire cartridge 1862 police made with the fluted cylinder.
Originally for an 1860 colt richards cartridge conversion. The numbers of thuer conversions made are uncertain, simply because there were so many possible models. Attractive colt 1862 conversion type ii fitted with a 4 12 inch barrel, onepiece wood grips. The 1860 army conversion required the resurrection. All models of their original series conversion cylinders are designed for use with either. Hollowbased bullets must be used in the conversion. The model 1862 police revolver was made from 1861 through c. Jul 29, 2012 national firearms museum senior curator phil schreier in a clip from the last curators corner of july 2012. It is necessary to move a small lever to eject the empty casings. Factory engraved colt 4 12inch 38 caliber colt model 1862.
Manufactured from 1861 until approximately 1873, it was designed in response to the demand for pocket pistols by both civilians and the police force. Cartridge conversion installation and heel base bullet reloading tools and supplies all in a convenient one stop shopping experience. These 4150 arsenal grade steel conversions are dropin style that allow the shooter to still shoot with their original black powder cylinder. For more information and to see quantity in stock, click the more info button.
Conversion cylinders if your not sure about which cylinder will best fit your needs give old south a call and we will do our best to answer your questions. Manufactured 1863 and was among the approximately 24,000 revolvers converted for use with 38 caliber metallic cartridges. They are built with stateoftheart materials, so you can enjoy safe and reliable performance with modern ammunition. I found the pocket pistols much too small for my long fingers and gave both the pistol and the book to a friend on the other side of the country. Dec 18, 20 shooting and showing the navy colt richards mason cartridge conversion, as well as giving an overview of the cartridge conversion revolvers of the 1860s and 1870s. Not the best colt in that department for my personal specs. And 1860 army model 19942002 by colt black powder arms co.
Factory engraved colt 4 12inch 38 caliber colt model. This is a great reference for conversion revolvers of all types. They simply machined the frames for the rebated cylinder and built them as new. It is now more correctly termed as the heading or as the pocket. Colt developed a series of designs that could be used to convert an existing percussion gun to a cartridge revolver. The smaller versions of colts first revolvers are also called baby patersons by collectors and were produced first in. Colt guns colt conversions page 1 collectors firearms. So most were built using pocket navy and police models. The 1860 army conversion required the resurrection of an old cartridge, the.
Also very desirable as it has an iron backstrap and trigger guard and it is not english proofed. Uberti a singleaction open top colt navy revolver the colt revolving belt pistol of naval caliber i. Between 1862 and 1873, colt records document production of 19,000 of the pocket navies and over 20,000 pocket police revolvers. However, colt also used up their supply of unfinished, prenumbered 1849 parts. Colt 1860 army richards cartridge conversion revolver. The family of colt pocket percussion revolvers evolved from the earlier commercial revolvers marketed by the patent arms manufacturing company of paterson, n. Uberti cartridge revolvers are true replicas of original historical designs. Colt revolvers conversion 18671878 colt revolvers antique sellers information when emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on seller. Colt, like all the other manufacturers in the us, was prevented from making cartridge revolvers by the rollin white patent, which finally expired in 1869. As metalliccased cartridges became more and more popular as well as already available, some 70% of colt model 1862 police revolvers were converted to fire the new ammunition. The roll engraving on the black powder cylinder is also available on the conversion cylinder.