Colt Styles

[jaxenro]

Seems like the question comes up often what styles Colt made so here is a quick primer on open tops

Colt Patent Arms made three different open top (no top strap) frame sizes for percussion revolvers:

1. Holster Model (6 shot cylinder)

 A. Non Rebated Frame (Walker / Dragoon size grips)
    1. Walker (.44 caliber 9" "Dragoon" style barrel [half round half octogon] hinged loading lever no latch)
    2. 1st Model Dragoon (.44 caliber 7.5" "Dragoon" style barrel [half round half octogon] hinged loading lever)
    3. 2nd Model Gragoon (.44 caliber 7.5" "Dragoon" style barrel [half round half octogon] hinged loading lever)
    4. 3rd Model Dragoon (.44 caliber 7.5" "Dragoon" style barrel [half round half octogon] hinged loading lever)

 B. Rebated Frame
    1. None

2. Belt Models (6 shot cylinder)

 A. Non Rebated Frame (Navy size grips)
    1. 1851 Navy (.36 caliber 7.5" octogon barrel hinged loading lever)
    2. 1861 Navy (.36 caliber 7.5" round barrel creeping loading lever)

 B. Rebated Frame (Army size grips)
    1. 1860 Army (.44 caliber 8" round barrel creeping loading lever)

3. Pocket Models (Many variations exist with different barrel lengths, 5 and 6 shot cylinders, with and without loading levers)

 A. Non Rebated Frame (Pocket size grips)
    1. 1848 Baby Dragoon (.31 caliber 4 to 6" octogon barrel no loading lever)
    2. 1849 Pocket (.31 caliber 4 to 6" octogon barrel hinged loading lever)

 B. Rebated Frame (Pocket size grips)
    1. 1862 Police (.36 caliber 4.5 to 6.5" round barrel creeping loading lever)
    1. 1862 Trapper (.36 caliber 3.5" round barrel no loading lever)
    3. 1865 Pocket Navy (.36 caliber 4.5 to 6.5" octogon barrel hinged loading lever)

Of course there are variations on all of the above but that is the basics

 

[crockett]

Good information, thanks. I should say that I think some of the earliest (Patterson NJ) guns were rifles and they had top straps- the point being that Colt figured the pistols without top straps were plenty strong.

 

[jaxenro]

Plus the Root revolve and the Hartford revolving rifles had top straps

 

[Millermpls]

Nice summation. I have been on the road to collect an example of each 'style' or 'type'. I started with a 3rd model Dragoon, picked up a '51 Navy, and lastly a '62 Police. A '49 Pocket and a '60 should finish the series. Your article helps to confirm. :hatsoff:

Then on to a Patterson and Root... :slap:

 

[azmntman]

PM me re your .49 pocket

 

[nhmoose]

What is a Hinged loading leaver and what is a creeping loading lever.?

 

[necchi]

Hinged lever;

Creeping lever It's got "teeth/gears";