Scarce Antique COLT M1862 POLICE .38 CF Conversion Revolver w/EJECTOR ROD CLASSIC COLT Revolver in .38 CENTERFIRE

Product Description

Scarce Antique COLT M1862 POLICE .38 CF Conversion Revolver w/EJECTOR ROD 

CLASSIC COLT Revolver in .38 CENTERFIRE

Here we present an antique Colt Model 1862 Police Conversion Revolver, made circa 1873-75 in Hartford, Connecticut after the Rollin-White patent expired. The single largest batch of altered, converted or remanufactured revolvers were in the 1862 Police and Pocket Navy sizes, all altered to .38 caliber, in either rimfire or centerfire. Colt produced 24,000 cartridge revolvers on this mid-sized frame between 1873 and 1881, with at least 5 model variations and configurations. According to Breslin, Pirie and Price in “Variations Of Colt’s New Model Police & Pocket Breech Loading Pistols,” these types of revolvers were not conversions. They left the factory as newly made (from Police parts) breech-loading cartridge revolvers. These mid-sized .38 cartridge revolvers were produced in three different serial number ranges. These guns are found serial numbered in the upper regions of the Model 1849 Pocket serial number range (between about 274,000 and 328,000), in the upper regions of the Model 1862 Pocket Navy and Police ranges (found between about 36,000 and 48,000) and in their own range of about 1-19,000. These guns were manufactured between 1873 and 1880/81 with most of the new serial number range guns manufactured between 1873-1875, and the balance of the guns primarily being produced circa 1875-1880. In all cases, the unsold stock remained on hand, and in many cases was still shipping in the mid-to-late 1880s.

The percussion Model 1862’s introduction was an attempt to fill a niche in the market for a pocket revolver suited for civilians and police of a larger caliber (.36) than the 1849 Pocket Revolver (.31). Much as the Colt 1851 Navy was a scaled-up version of the 1849 Pocket, the 1862 Police was a scaled down version of the 1861 Navy, which was a scaled down version of the 1860 Army. The result was a sleek, stylish and light, 5-shot pocket revolver in .36 caliber.

Collectors today largely view these as the climax of the development of the percussion revolver. Unfortunately for Colt, the commercial market for the 1862 Police was overshadowed by cartridge revolvers. As a result, production was quite limited by Colt’s standards with approximately only 28,000 manufactured between 1862 and 1873. And, of those that were produced, it is estimated that 70% of these were converted to cartridge firearms leaving only 8,400 in the original state. These factors make the 1862 Police Revolver in its original percussion format quite scarce for collectors today. This revolver came with 3-1/2 inch, 4-1/2 inch, 5-1/2 inch, and 6-1/2 inch barrels, with the 6-1/2 inchers harder to come by.

The overall condition is good. Gray patina throughout. The action is strong. The bore is in good condition with strong rifling. The grip is solid. Numbers match.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 4-1/2 inches.

Caliber: .38 Centerfire

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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$2100
#240270