In House Shipping:
Make: Colt
Model: 1862 Pocket Police
Serial Number: 35080
Year of Manufacture: 1867 (
https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .36 Caliber Cap and Ball
Action Type: 5-Shot Single Action Percussion Revolver
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “ADDRESS COL SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA”. The left of the frame is marked “COLTS / PATENT”. The bottom of the barrel assembly, frame, trigger guard, and butt are each marked “35080”. The bottom of the wedge is marked “5080”. The address in the flute of the cylinder is not observable.
Barrel Length: 6 1/2″, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a conical brass post (also called a “pin type”) threaded to the barrel at the muzzle. The rear sight is a “V” notch at the front of the hammer, visible when cocked.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth walnut. The grip has some scattered light nicks and scratches with thinning finish from handling. There are no cracks. Based on the fit of the grip to the grip frame, we suspect that it is original to the gun. Overall, the grip is in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color & Silver-Plated Brass
Finish Originality: Remaining finish appears Original.
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with well defined rifling. There is speckeled erosion in the bore. The bore rate a 8/10 in this writer’s opinion.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 10% of its metal finish. The majority of the observable blue can be found in the flutes. The right of the barrel has some scattered remaining blue finish. There are some other scattered spots of remaining finish. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some scattered minor oxidation. The safety studs between the nipples on the rear of the cylinder range from intact to sheared. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to blurred. Overall, this revolver is in about Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrel has no play to the frame. We have not fired this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a wood display case. The interior of the case has compartments for the revolver as well as the included powder flask, a chamber ball/bullet mould, cap tin, screw driver and another compartment which currently has several lead balls. The tin’s cap is marked “COLT’S PT”. The inside of the case’s lid has a paper with instructions for loading and cleaning a Colt revolver.
Our Assessment: The Colt 1862 was produced in two variants, the 1862 Police and the 1862 Pocket Navy, between 1861 and 1873 with about 47,000 made between the two. The 1862 Police has a similar barrel profile to the full-size Model 1860, fluted cylinders and a frame about the same size as the 1849 Pocket. By rebating the cylinder, the 1862 models were able to use this smaller frame while still firing a .36 caliber projectile, making for a potent pocket-sized revolver in its day. Many of the 1862 models were carried by soldiers in the Civil War, on both sides. With fewer than 50,000 made between the two 1862 models, they are considerably more scarce than the 1849 Pocket models. This early example would be a outstanding addition to a Colt collection missing the 1862 Police, and will display well with its included case.