Colt Model 1855 Pocket Percussion Revolver, Serial no. 4460, with Case and Accessories
ca. 1856
Medium
Steel, wood (oak)
Dimensions
L. 7 7/8 in. (19.99 cm); L. of barrel 3 1/2 in. (8.89 cm); Cal. .28 in. (7 mm); case 9 3/8 x 5 3/4 x 1 7/8 in. (23.8 x 14.61 x 4.75 cm); L. of spanner-screwdriver 3 1/4 in. (8.26 cm); greatest W. of spanner-screwdriver 1 3/8 in. (3.48 cm); L. of primer 4 5/8 in. (11.73 cm); greatest W. of primer 2 in. (5.08 cm); L. of bullet mould 4 3/8 in. (11.1 cm)
Classification
Firearms-Pistols-Revolvers
Culture
American, Hartford, Connecticut
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of John E. Parsons, 1957
Accession Number
57.166.2a–e
Art Historical Context
Step into the Arms and Armor gallery to admire the Colt Model 1855 Pocketussion Revolver (serial no. 4460), a creation by Samuel Colt, the pioneering American gunsmith from Hartford, Connecticut circa 1856.ed from finely finished steel and oak wood, this compact pistol measures just 7 7/8 inches long with a 3 1/2-inch barrel and .28-caliber bore, making it ideal for concealed carry during an era of expanding frontiers and personal defense needs. Colt's genius lay in revolutionizing firearms with his interchangeable parts and assembly-line production, transforming the revolver from a craftsman...