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
Rights
Public Domain
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's novelty into a reliable, mass-produced tool. This percussion model, ignited by a fulminate cap rather than flintlock, offered faster, more dependable firing—crucial for soldiers, lawmen, and settlers in mid-19th-century America. Its elegant proportions and sturdy oak grips reflect the blend of functionality and subtle artistry in industrial design. Housed in a fitted case (9 3/8 x 5 3/4 x 1 7/8 inches) with accessories like a spanner-screwdriver, primer flask, and bullet mould, this complete kit underscores Colt's attention to user practicality. A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from John E. Parsons in 1957, it embodies American ingenuity and the cultural shift toward portable firepower in the pre-Civil War years.
About the Artist
Samuel Colt · 1814–1862
Samuel Colt was born on July 19, 1814, in Hartford, Connecticut, to Christopher Colt, a textile manufacturer, and Sarah Caldwell. His early years were marked by family tragedy, including the death of his mother from tuberculosis when he was six, after which his father remarried. At age 11, Colt was indentured to a farmer and later worked in his father's textile mill in Ware, Massachusetts, where h...