Colt percussion revolver
In 1836 Samuel Colt received his first patent for a percussion revolver, in which the drum behind the barrel could be turned by cocking the hammer. They were manufactured from 1837 by the Patent Arms Manufacturing Co. in Paterson, (New Jersey) and from 1847/48 to the 1870s in Colt's own production facilities in Hartford, (Connecticut). In the case of percussion revolvers, the propellant charge and the projectile are loaded separately into the chambers of the drum. The ignition takes place via primers that are placed on the rear of the pistons on the drum .
This page only looks at percussion revolvers manufactured by Colt. Other Colt items are under Samuel Colt , Colt Paterson revolver , Colt Conversion Revolver , Colt Open Top , Colt Single Action Army , Colt House in 1871 and list of handguns / C described. For the operation and functionality of this type of weapon, see also percussion revolver .
development
After Samuel Colt received his first patent for a functional revolver in 1836, a number of percussion revolvers and revolver rifles began to be manufactured for the civilian market at the Patent Arms Manufacturing Co. in Paterson, New Jersey . However, Colt's goal was the military use of the weapons and he made some sales to the US Army and the Republic of Texas . The superiority of his revolver was found when a group of 18 with Paterson turrets equipped Texas Rangers victorious from a battle against about 70 to 80 Comanche - Indians emerged. The leader of the Rangers at that time was the legendary Captain John (Jack) Hays .
Due to a lack of profitability, production in Paterson was stopped in 1842. It wasn't until 1847 that Colt, now under his own direction, received an order from the US Army for 1,000 large-caliber revolvers, which he had developed for series production together with the former Texas Ranger Samuel H. Walker . In the absence of his own production facilities, he had these manufactured by the arms manufacturer Eli Whitney Jr. in Whitneyville, Connecticut. As early as 1848, following an order from the US Army, Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company founded 7000 Dragoon Model 1848 revolvers, a lighter version of the Walker.
The American Civil War really boosted production. Colt was the main supplier of revolvers for the Union troops , but numerous Colt products from existing private property or from the black market were also used on the southern side. From the northern states two main lines were ordered: With 127,000 copies of the Model 1860 Army in caliber .44 Colt was the largest supplier of large-caliber revolvers, second came with 106,000 pieces Remington Arms Co., Ilion, NY with the Remington New Model Army . A smaller number of the Colt Model 1851 Navy and 1861 Navy in .36 caliber were procured for other services. The Colt revolvers all worked on the same principle. This allowed the Colt company to be one of the first weapons manufacturers to consistently carry out an efficient series production.
Model overview
Paterson model from 1836
The Colt Paterson revolver was Colt's first commercial revolver. It was made in the city of Paterson, New Jersey . From “No. 1 Pocket Model ”in caliber .28, 500 copies were made. From the larger “No. 2 and No. 3 Belt Model "(belt model) were made just over 900 pieces. Measurements show a barrel caliber between .31 and .32 inches and a barrel caliber between .33 and .34 inches. The model no. 2 had a shorter one, Model No. 3 a longer handle extended below. From “No. 5 Holster Model ”in caliber .36, 1000 copies were made. A number of this largest mass-produced Paterson revolver went to the Texas Rangers . This model is therefore also called the Texas Model among collectors . The special thing about the Paterson-Colts was the trigger: it could be folded in, which made the trigger guard unnecessary. When the cock was cocked, the trigger opened. After use, it could be folded up again. This mechanism made it possible to carry the revolver in the belt without a holster.
The Paterson had a capacity of five rounds. The barrel had to be removed for loading. There were also special powder bottles with five necks for faster loading, so all chambers could be filled with powder at the same time; at the bottom these bottles had five openings to load the balls. A loading ram supplied as an accessory was used to set the balls. The milling in the drum axis, through which the wedge for fastening the barrel was pushed, served as an abutment (patent drawing Fig. 16). Only towards the end of production did the revolver have a loading ram attached to the rear of the barrel.
The total production of the Patent Arms Manufacturing Co. was just over 3,000 revolvers and about 1,800 revolver rifles. The company, in which Colt was only a partner, went bankrupt in 1842 and the remaining machines, parts and revolvers were taken over by a major shareholder (John Ehlers) and further marketed.
Colt Walker model from 1847
The Walker, officially called the Model of 1847 Army Pistol by the army , was designed jointly by Samuel Colt and Captain Samuel Walker . It was made at the Ely Whitney factory in Whitneyville as Colt did not yet have its own manufacturing facility. The basis was the Texas Paterson , adapted to the new caliber and structurally simplified. The no longer retractable trigger received a trigger guard for protection and a loading ram was installed under the barrel. In contrast to the Paterson, the Walker had a 6-shot drum in .44 caliber, and the drum was longer to accommodate a large powder load. With a weight of over 2.5 kg, the weapon is still the heaviest Colt revolver ever produced in series; the barrel length is 9 inches. Originally this weapon was also intended as a replacement for the single-shot saddle pistols. It was not carried in a case on the soldier's belt, but in a double holster on the horse's saddle.
Only 1,100 weapons of the Walker model were made, 1,000 of which were distributed to the Dragoons of the First United States Mounted Rifles , where Captain Walker led Company C. The remaining 100 were sold on the civilian market.
Due to the larger powder charge, the gun had such a strong recoil that the gunner's hand was jerked upwards and sometimes even the load ram, which was only held by a weak spring clip, fell through the jerk, which blocked the drum. A spring wedge that was introduced later held the lever of the loading ram reliably in place. The performance of the weapon corresponded to a modern .357 magnum revolver.
The Walker-Colt was technically not yet fully developed; the drums burst, and so it stayed with the 1100 copies. The principle was good, however, and the army was interested in another 1,000 but modified weapons. Colt offered an improved and lighter successor, which became known as the Colt Dragoon Mod. 1848 .
Colt Dragoon from 1848
In December 1847, Samuel Colt received an order from the US Army for an additional 1,000 improved revolvers. The Colt Improved Holster Pistol , officially named Model of 1848 Holster Pistol by the Army, was an improvement on the Walker. The drum was shortened; this saved weight and prevented it from becoming overloaded. The barrel, which is round at the front, has been shortened to 7.5 inches and the rear barrel section in front of the drum has been rounded to avoid gas reflections. The loading ram got an improved fixation, which then became the standard for the Colt muzzle loaders. Like the Walker, the weapon had .44 caliber and was just as powerful as this one - but easier to control.
The Dragoon Colt was improved over time; Today collectors differentiate between three variants: The first model had a square trigger guard and oval millings to block the drum. The mainspring was V-shaped, it was only replaced by a leaf spring in the course of the second variant. In this variant, the drum notches were rectangular (as in all later Colt models). The third variant then got a round trigger guard. After 1860 revolvers with stop pistons were also manufactured. These had a rear end mounted visor and were made with 7-1 / 2 and 8 inch barrels.
The Dragoon is often referred to as the Hartford Dragoon after its place of manufacture . The total number of Dragoons manufactured in Hartford is around 20,000, of which just over 7,000 were sold to the army
Pocket Model of 1848
This revolver, now known as the Baby Dragoon, was intended for the civilian market. It was a scaled down version of the Dragoon in .31 caliber with an octagonal barrel and initially had no loading ram. This was added later. Its most striking feature was the straight trigger guard at the back. It was made in Colts' first Hartford factory and successfully sold to the gold diggers in the Gold Rush in California. A total of around 14,500 of these weapons were manufactured, from serial numbers ~ 12,000 with a loading ram.
Pocket model from 1849
This revolver was a further development of the first small model in .31 caliber. As standard it was equipped with a loading ram and the trigger guard was round. The barrel lengths were 3, 4, 5, or 6 inches and the drum was originally 5-shots, later it became 6-shots. In the number range of its predecessor, with copies produced from serial numbers from ~ 14,500 to 331,000, it was the most popular Colt muzzle loader. A number of the Pocket 1849 were made without a loader, this model is now known by collectors as the Wells Fargo model.
The Navy Model 1851 was called the Belt Model by Colt and came onto the market in 1850. In terms of size, the Navy is between the Pocket and the Dragoon. It is called the Colt Navy because of the sea battle rolled up on the drum. The Navy had an octagonal 7.5-inch barrel and was produced in .36 (rarely .40) caliber. Like the Dragoon and Pocket, it had a barrel-mounted loading ram. Between 1850 and 1872, over 215,000 of this six-shot weapon were manufactured in Hartford. An unknown number went to the US Army and the US Navy during the Civil War. Other countries also used Navy Colts. It is known that the delivery of a number of these revolvers to Russia was intercepted by Prussia and was used by the Navy under the designation KM. Austria also used these weapons and made replicas in Innsbruck. This classic model was also very popular with civilians and therefore widespread.
Colts made in London
Since Colt saw market opportunities in England, he decided after the Great Exhibition in 1851 at Crystal Palace in London to set up a production facility there. He found the rooms on the Thames near Vauxhall Bridge and as early as October 1852 he equipped the halls with machines. Production in this factory, known as the Small Arms Manufactory , ran from 1853 to 1856 and was then discontinued due to a lack of profitability. The weapons manufactured there or manufactured from delivered parts differ from the US production in that they have an iron grip frame, the ticker - ADDRESS COL.COLT LONDON - and English proof marks. All Colts made or completed in London have been numbered separately.
Mainly, Model 1851 Navy Colts were manufactured in London for private sale to officers; this in competition with the double-action revolvers offered by Tranter , Adams , Westley Richards and James Kerr . Guns bought by the government are stamped with WD (War Department) and the typical Broad Arrow. A total of 42,000 such London Navy Colts were made. They were mainly used in the UK , Canada, the colonies, and the Crimean War .
The Pocket Model 1849 was also manufactured there between 1853 and 1856. Total production of the London Pockets is around 11,000, with the first 265 made in Hartford. These are recognizable by the brass handle frame and the hand-engraved scrolling text.
There are also around 700 London Model 1848 Dragoon revolvers, but it is believed that these are made up of Hartford components.
A large part of the weapons manufactured for the English market were delivered in oak boxes which, in addition to the weapon, contained a cleaning rod, a piston wrench, a ball pouring tongs, an English Dixon powder bottle and an Eley detonator socket.
Army model from 1860
This model came on the market in 1860 in Army .44 caliber and had a streamlined, round barrel. The barrel length was initially 7.5 inches, later 8 inches. It was supposed to replace the Dragoon.
In the production of this weapon, a new, improved steel was used for the first time , Colt called it Silversteel . This new material made it possible to build a .44 on the frame of the Navy caliber. This means that the rear part of the weapon (system case) corresponded to that of the Navy Colt, but the front was adapted to the larger drum diameter. The first Army 1860 revolvers had a fluted drum and often a Navy handle, which was quickly replaced by a longer handle. Only the drum and the carriage were newly designed. This system made it possible to economically manufacture large numbers of the Navy and Army models, since the components used were almost identical except for the barrel and drum. Due to the larger caliber, the Army also had the characteristic stepped drum, the diameter in the rear third corresponded to that of the .36 Navy drum (38.9 mm), the front two thirds were slightly larger in diameter (41.24 mm) to accommodate the charge for the .44 caliber. In contrast, its predecessor, the 1848 Dragoon, had a drum diameter of 47.5 mm, and its barrel diameter of 19.6 mm was larger than that of the 1860 Army (18.4 mm).
The loading ram was also new - if it was a lever system in the previous models, it was a gear system here. The rear end of the lever was rounded at the top and had five knobs that reached into precisely fitting holes in the barrel housing, the whole lever ran backwards and drove the ball setter into the drum chamber. This saved another screw. Since the weapon was also slimmer, streamlined and lighter than its predecessor (Colt Dragoon 1.86 kg, Colt Army 1.25 kg), it could also be carried by the soldier in the holster on the belt, so it was also suitable for arming non-mounted troops suitable.
The 1860 Army was delivered with the same naval battle scene on the drum as the 1851 Navy, somewhat unusual for a cavalry weapon .
Over 200,000 examples of this weapon were made between 1860 and 1872. Of these, over 125,000 went to US troops. These models were equipped so that a shoulder rest ( piston ) could be attached. This required millings on the handle and a fourth screw in the system box (the other models only had three screws). For reinforcement, the handle frames were made of steel and no longer of brass. The flasks are sought-after collector's items, especially those with a built-in canteen.
The second Navy model in .36 caliber soon became one of the more popular models in the Civil War (on both sides). The weapon was often referred to as the New Model Navy Revolver. The barrel design was adopted from the 1860 Army model. The rest of the weapon corresponds to the Navy Mod. 1851. Between 1861 and 1872 over 38,000 pieces were produced. The first hundred models were delivered with fluted drums. In order to simplify production, the smooth drums were used again.
Police model from 1862
This model was built like a scaled-down Army 1860. It was based on the pocket frame, was five-shot, in .36 caliber. The barrel length was from 3.5 to 6.5 inches, available in one inch increments. In this model, the drum was fluted at the front to save weight.
At the same time, a version with an octagonal barrel analogous to the Pocket Model from 1849, also in caliber .36, was launched, which is now known as Pocket Navy.
The gun was named Police Modell because it was issued to the New York City Police in 1862 .
Between 1861 and 1872, 47,000 pieces of both models were produced in the same series of numbers.
Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket Revolver
The Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer Revolver is the only Colt percussion revolver that is not based on the components of the popular Colt revolver. The weapon was designed by Elisha K. Root and is therefore called Root's Model by collectors . The first prototypes of the Root Revolver had a special rotating device for the drum, this was not rotated, as with other Colt revolvers, by a toothed ring at the rear end of the drum, but by a pull rod combined with the tap with a cam at the rear end, the engaged in zik-zak grooves milled on the outer drum surface.
It was a small pocket weapon, barrel length 3.5 inches (less often 4.5 inches). Around 40,000 pieces were produced between 1855 and 1870. In contrast to the other Colt percussion revolvers, this weapon had a closed frame into which the barrel was screwed. To remove the drum, the axle had to be pulled out from behind. At first a pocket model in caliber .28 with five rounds was produced, later a model in caliber .31. It is unusual that the hammer was on the side, but hit the drum's piston in the middle of the weapon. on some models the pistons were not screwed in, but part of the drum.
Rifles , which found their way into the US Army in small numbers , were built according to the same system . These rifles and carbines Model 1855 were produced in various calibers from caliber .36 to .64 and as shotguns up to caliber .75. One disadvantage of these drum rifles was that if the gun was ignited into other drum chambers, injuries could occur on the shooter's left arm. Therefore, the shooters were advised not to support the rifle at the front on the stock, but directly in front of the trigger guard.
During the Civil War, the Berdan Sharp Shooters were equipped with the Root M1855 rifles, but were soon converted to Sharp's breech loaders . Other units, especially volunteer troops, received such revolver rifles, but for the reasons mentioned above, these weapons did not prove themselves.
Successor models (Colt Conversions)
Percussion revolvers were offered until the 1870s, although Colt was no longer prevented from manufacturing cartridge revolvers after the Rollin White patent expired in April 1869. In order to reduce stocks, Colt offered revolvers modified for rear loading, the Colt Conversions and the Colt Open Top , which was newly built on the same basis, at low prices and even after the release of the legendary Colt Single Action Army in 1873 they found their buyers.
Replicas, third-party manufacturers
Southern Confederate States
These are replicas of the Colt revolvers, which were manufactured by the Confederate Southern States during the Civil War of 1861–1865.
The main revolver manufacturer was Griswold & Gunnison in Griswoldville, Georgia. From 1862 he produced a total of 3,606 replicas of the Colt Navy Model 1851 in .36 caliber, until the foundry was destroyed in November 1864 by the troops of General William Tecumseh Sherman while marching to sea after the successful Atlanta campaign . The most obvious difference to the Colt is the brass frame and the round barrel in the front. In the later model, the rear part of the barrel was also rounded at the top.
Other southern copies of Colt revolvers were made in smaller numbers by the following companies: Augusta Machine Works, Columbus Fire Arms Mfg., JH Dance Brothers, Leech & Rigdon, Rigdon Ansley, Schneider & Glassick, Spiller & Burr, George Todd, Tucker Serrard & Co.
Third party manufacturer
In Belgium, for years, copies of Colt Navy 1851 revolvers in particular were mass-produced under license, but also without a license by various companies. A German gunsmith , Valentin Sauerbrey , born in 1804 in St. Blasii , emigrated to Basel (Switzerland) in 1846 , made copies of Colt Pocket 49 , Colt Navy 51 and various other handguns and handguns as a Basel armory .
Structure or assemblies
Due to the uniform production, all of the company's percussion revolvers between 1847 and 1872 were constructed according to the same principle and had the following components:
- Barrel with ball setter,
- System box with drum axis,
- Drum,
- Grip frame with handle and trigger guard.
An exception was the Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket Revolver developed by Elisha Root , which had a closed one-piece frame with a firmly screwed-in barrel and a tap attached to the side.
Run or run group
The barrels of the Paterson revolver have 11 rifles. The Colt percussion revolvers manufactured from 1847 onwards have 7 slides, early production with a right-hand twist, later with a left-hand twist. This is progressive, which means that the helix angle increases towards the end.
The barrel is either round or octagonal. It was forged from one piece. At the rear end, the barrel merges into the attachment (block), which is pushed over the drum axis and thus connected to the rest of the weapon. Two pins protruding from the system box, fitting in two holes in the barrel block, fix the parts against rotation. A wedge pushed across the block and through a milled cut in the drum axis secures the barrel.
The wedge is provided with a leaf spring that prevents it from slipping out. On the larger models, a screw above the wedge prevents it from falling out during dismantling.
The loading mechanism, consisting of a lever and the ball setter, is attached to the bottom of the barrel block. A side milled recess on the right rear of the block makes it easier to fill in the powder and insert the balls into the drum.
In the older models, the loading lever is articulated on an axle screwed into the block; in the models developed after 1860, the lever rolls backwards on a rack like a gear wheel. When not in use, the loading lever is held at the front by means of a spring-loaded wedge at a notch provided for this purpose.
System box with drum axis
The system box is the heart of the revolver.
The lower part serves as the lock housing with the trigger mechanism and the drum stopper. The trigger and drum stop each have their own screw as an axis. A two-tongued leaf spring attached underneath pushes the trigger forwards or the drum stopper upwards. The thicker screw behind it serves as an axis for the tap. The transport lever for rotating the drum is hinged to the side of the tap; a leaf spring attached to it pushes it forward into the drum's toothed ring. A small roller at the lower end of the hammer makes contact with the mainspring, which results in a softer lock action. When the cock is cocked for firing, a V-shaped notch becomes visible, which serves as a sight.
The block (Recoil-Shield) lying above the lock housing absorbs the recoil. Typical of Colt (and copied by all others) is its spherical shape, which is supposed to make drawing the weapon easier. It has a cutout (hammer slot) at the back to accommodate the tap. The drum axis screwed into the block has a thread-shaped recess; this is used to absorb fat and to prevent the drum from being blocked by powder residues.
Models with an additionally mountable shoulder rest have a cut-out on the left and right of the block as well as a screw each on the left and right of the system box as a counter bearing for the forked shoulder rest; this is fixed at the rear of the handle with a hook-shaped device.
drum
The cylindrical drum is not drilled through; Powder and bullets can only be loaded from the front. The 5 or 6 chambers have a thread at the back to accommodate the pistons .
The pistons are countersunk at the rear end of the drum and thus shielded from each other, so that the ignition spark is prevented from jumping to the next chamber. The pistons are screwed in and exchangeable, with the exception of some "1855 Sidehammer Pocket" models. A toothed ring into which the transport lever engages is incorporated in the center of the rear of the drum. When the cock is cocked, this lever turns the drum and brings the next loaded chamber into the firing position. In the "1855 Sidehammer Pocket" models, the toothed ring is attached to the drum axis, when the cock is cocked, the drum axis and drum rotate together.
Most models have a cylindrical drum. The surface has millings in which the drum stopper clicks into place in order to align and lock the drum exactly in front of the barrel when the tap is cocked. The drum is firmly locked even when it is not tensioned. If you want to turn this for loading, you have to half cock the tap. The drum stop then releases the drum and it can then be rotated clockwise.
Most Colt percussion revolvers have a fight or battle scene embossed on the drum. This was rolled up with a die cut by Watermann L. Ormsby , a New York engraver. Some later models have fluted drums (English: fluted cylinder), that between the powder chambers is milled out some of the material to reduce the weight. These millings are responsible for the characteristic appearance of a revolver drum as we know it today.
Fuse
On the back of the drum there is a pin between the pistons; the cock has a corresponding milling on its front. To secure the weapon, you raise the hammer a little, turn the drum only halfway and then lower the hammer onto this pin. This ensures that the tap does not lie on a loaded chamber. If the hammer is struck from behind, no shot can be released.
Handle and handle frame
The handle frame made of brass, more rarely steel, consists of two parts. The front part with the trigger guard is attached to the system box with three screws and covers the lock mechanism. At its lower end the mainspring is fastened with a screw. The rear part holds the one-piece handle made of walnut wood. It is attached to the system box with two screws and connected to the front handle frame with a third screw. In addition to the standard walnut handle, handles made of ivory , horn , mother-of-pearl or other materials could also be ordered. From 1859 Colt also developed pistons that could be attached to the larger models of its percussion revolvers (1848 Dragoon, 1851 Navy, 1860 Army) . In revolvers for army deliveries after 1860, the rear handle frame was usually made of steel. The brass frames for the civil market were also silver-plated.
In early revolvers, the mainspring is V-shaped and transfers its power directly to the hammer. Leaf springs were used from around 1849. They were cheaper and more reliable and transfer their power to the cock by means of a transfer roller attached to it, which leads to a softer lock action.
Handling Colt Percussion Revolvers
Antique pistol revolvers should not be unnecessarily disassembled.
Small disassembly:
- Loosen the wedge and pull it out as far as it will go. If necessary, tap lightly with a mallet.
- Pull off the running group forwards. If it is tight, cock half-cock, turn the drum to an intermediate position and release the barrel with the loading lever.
- Slightly lift the tap and remove the drum.
In contrast to revolvers with a closed frame such as Remington, Roger Spencer, Savage etc., the barrel could be cleaned from the rear, which prevented the barrel from being rubbed out by the iron cleaning rod, and water could not get into the lock when the barrel was washed.
Big dismantling:
- Loosen and remove the rear handle frame; Carefully pull off the handle.
- Loosen the mainspring.
- Loosen and remove the front handle frame.
- Loosen the two-tongued spring in the lock case, loosen the drum stop screw, remove the drum stop, loosen the trigger screw, loosen the cock screw, pull the cock vertically downwards.
- Remove the loading ram if necessary.
To assemble, proceed in the reverse order. The use of screwdrivers with parallel or relief-ground flanks prevents damage to the screws. The screws, with the exception of those for fastening the springs, should only be tightened loosely.
When buying a Colt percussion revolver, the following accessories were included: screwdriver combined with piston wrench, ball casting tongs, which allow the casting of one round ball and one ogival bullet, powder bottle, rifle with pistons.
In order to simplify loading, paper cartridges in common calibers were also offered on the market . They were packaged paper tubes containing the bullet and powder charge. Tin foil was used instead of paper.
safety
Antique gun revolvers should no longer be used for shooting. Even the copies offered on the market today may only be shot with black powder. The handling and loading of such replicas is described in detail in the article percussion revolver. During cowboy action shooting on the bds, a chamber should not be loaded to be on the safe side, the hammer can be lowered onto this, which prevents any unwanted shot. Other associations allow loading of all six chambers.
Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (selection)
Colt Paterson Percussion Revolver, No. 3, Belt Model, Serial no.156 (ca.1838)
Colt Paterson Percussion Revolver, No. 5, holster model (approx. 1840)
"Wells Fargo" Colt revolver (approx. 1851)
Colt Dragoon Percussion Revolver, Third Model, serial no.12403 (1852)
Colt Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver, Serial Number 12406 (ca.1853)
Colt Model 1855 Pocket Percussion Revolver, Serial no.4460 (1855)
Colt Model 1861 Navy Percussion Revolver, serial no. 12240 (1863)
today
With the advent of gunpowder shooting in the 1960s. one began again to participate in sport shooting with percussion revolvers.
Above all, replicas from Uberti (Italy) are used for this, as the originals would be too valuable.
See also
literature
- Robert Q. Sutherland / RL Wilson: The Book of Colt Firearms . Published by Robert Q. Sutherland, Kansas City, Missouri 1971.
- Robert M. Jordan: Colt's Pocket '49 It's Evolution including the Baby Dragoon & Wells Fargo . Darrow M. Watt, Loma Mar, CA 2000, ISBN 0-9674816-0-0 .
- Nathan L. Swayze: '51 Colt Navies . Gun Hill Publishing Co., Yazoo City, Mississippi 1993, ISBN 0-88227-030-3 .
- PL Shumaker: Colt's Variations of the Old Model Pocket Pistol 1848 to 1872 . Borden Publishing Co., Alhambra, CA 1966.
- Marfé Fergusson Delano, Barbara C. Mallen: Echoes Of Glory, Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy . Time Live Books, Time Warner Inc., New York, NY 1991, ISBN 0-8094-8850-7 ( ISBN 0-8094-8851-5 ( lib. Bdg )).