This revolver has lots of nice finish, rating excellent for barrel blue with better than 80 percent remaining, the cylinder showing less from rubbing on high spots, but also with excellent, visible case colors on the frame, lever and hammer, and lots of silver on the gripstrap. Needless to say, the metal is smooth and the markings are sharp: ADDRESS COL. SAM COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA on the barrel; COLTS/PATENT on left frame;  PAT SEPT. 10th 1850 in one cylinder flute. We see just a little rubbing to gray on the rear edge of the upper right frame below the cylinder and a few tiny dings on the right at the wedge, likely from someone tapping it out, and wear to the silver along the edges of the triggerguard. The wood has a tight fit and good varnish, though with some deep scratches on the lower right grip and some dings on the butt, also on the right. The mechanics are good.

Despite its designation as the Colt Model 1862 Police, these revolvers were not specifically for the police, but commercially available, and production actually started in 1861, extending to about 1873. These have their own serial number range, running up to about 48,000, with the 32,000 range being the approximate cut-off for December 1865. This one is numbered 2457, all matching throughout, giving it a clear 1861 date of manufacture.

These were very popular revolvers privately purchased by officers. They are lighter and more convenient than a Colt Navy, but the five-shot rebated and partially fluted cylinder carries a Navy size .36 caliber round rather than the .31 caliber round of the Colt Pocket. They were also produced in a number of barrel lengths for ease of carry. This one has a 4.5-inch barrel.

Despite its “police” designation this was a widely available commercial revolver and was popular as a Civil War officer’s sidearm

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. 47000. The Police was in 36 caliber with a five shot rebated and half fluted cylinder. It had a round barrel with the creeping style loading lever in barrel lengths of 3½, 4½, 5½ and 6 ½ inches.

The frame, hammer, and lever were case-hardened and the remainder of the revolver was blued. The grips were of one-piece walnut with silver-plated brass back-strap and trigger-guard. The barrel address is ‘ADDRESS COL. SAM COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA’ with. COLTS/PATENT stamped on the left side of the frame. PAT SEPT. 10th 1850 is stamped within one of the cylinder flutes.

Early specimens are found with the barrel address: ‘ADDRESS SAML COLT/HARTFORD CT’ and have silver- plated iron grip-straps.  [sr] [ph:m]

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