Manufactured circa. 1873-1875. This revolver is one of the very few known Model 1862 Pocket Navy cartridge conversion revolvers manufactured with three inch barrels. An example of this rare revolver is described and illustrated on pages 341-342 of "A Study of Colt Conversions" by R. Bruce McDowell. McDowell states Model 1862 Pocket Navy revolvers with three inch barrels are "extremely rare" and that only nine authentic specimens have been identified. He notes most of the known thee inch Pocket Navy conversions are in the 20,400-21,100 serial number range including serial numbers 20,484, 20,675, 20,706, 21,001, 21,065 and 21,068. The revolver has the Colt commercial blue finish on the barrel and cylinder. The frame, hammer and conversion ring have a casehardened finish. The brass trigger guard and back strap are silver plated, and the one-piece walnut grip has a varnish finish. The revolver is not fitted with an ejector rod or loading gate. The barrel lug has a plugged loading lever hole. The left side of the hammer has a rimfire firing pin secured by two rivets. The hammer spur is bordered and knurled. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with "ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA" in one line. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped "-PAT. JULY.25.1871-/-PAT. JULY.2. 1872.-" in two lines. "36 CAL" is stamped on the left shoulder of the trigger guard. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the stagecoach holdup scene and "COLTS PATENT". The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The cylinder is stamped with the original serial number "8054" and the partial serial number "0785". All of the visible serial numbers match.

Very fine. The revolver retains 60% plus of the original blue and 70% of the original casehardened finish. The barrel has a number of shallow dents in the right side of the barrel lug surrounding the wedge. The cylinder retains nearly all of the stagecoach holdup scene. The trigger guard and back strap have 40% of the silver plated finish. The grip is also very fine. Wear is limited to several minor handling marks; nearly all of the high gloss varnish finish remains. The frame markings and serial numbers are sharp. Mechanically fine. This is a very fine example of an extremely scarce Colt Model 1862 Pocket Navy Cartridge Conversion Revolver with three inch barrel.