Colt Model 1855 Side-hammer 31 Cal. Revolver / SOLD

Colt Mod. 1855 Side-hammer 31 Cal. Revolver - Inventory Number:  HAN 300 / SOLD

Colt Model 1855 “Root” Side-hammer Pocket Revolver, made in Hartford, Connecticut. This Samuel Colt design was named for his factory superintendent Elisha K. Root and is a telling example of Colt’s desire to innovate, which was probably the single biggest factor in his success. Though the Colt 1849 Pocket had been introduced only 6 years prior, the “Colonel” attempted to make an improved pocket revolver. The Root features Colt’s debut of the “creeping” style of loading lever which allowed for better mechanical advantage when loading the gun, Colt’s first solid frame, a hammer mounted on the right side for access to the cylinder axis pin, and a cylinder axis pin which was the point at which the hand turned the cylinder (versus on the cylinder itself).

Many good ideas were tested in this design, and some would prove worthy to be used in the future. The small parts used in the Root Revolver’s mechanism proved quite fragile, however upscaling them into the 1855 series of Revolving Rifles and Shotguns seemed to help. Colt is even known to have experimented with the Root design on a Dragoon pistol, a precursor to the 1860 Army. Overall, about 44,000 Root Revolvers were made from 1855-1870, much fewer than the 1849 Pocket with 340,000 produced. Of these 44,000, 30,000 were in .28 caliber, while 14,000 were in .31 caliber.

Though not a primary military arm during the American Civil War, handguns were commonly privately purchased by soldiers for use on the battlefield. Whether legend or fact, it is interesting to note something commonly read about pocket revolvers of the day: that while they could be used for self-defense against the enemy, many soldiers kept them on their person to defend themselves against an unwanted amputation in the primitive field hospitals that were notorious, even in their day.

The overall condition is fine. Original finish. Faint but visible stagecoach robbery scene. The action is strong. The bore is in very good condition with strong rifling. The grip is very good. Numbers match on the frame, barrel and cylinder.

Inventory Number:  HAN 300 / SOLD