This Colt deluxe Model 1855 half-stock sporting rifle manufactured c. 1857-1864. This rifle is one of 125 .36 caliber, full and half-stock Revolving Cylinder Sporting Rifles manufactured with 24-inch barrels. The rifle features a .36 caliber, fluted, six-shot cylinder, fancy grade walnut stock with checkered wrist and round barrel with semi-octagon section at the breech. The barrel has an under-lug with two steel pipes that support a hickory cleaning rod with brass tip. The barrel has a dovetail mounted front sight with nickel-silver blade and distinctive folding rear sight with knurled adjustment knob. The rifle has a scroll trigger guard and crescent steel buttplate. The hammer has bordered knurling on the spur. The forearm has a nickel-silver tip and oval wedge escutcheon. The barrel and under-lug have a blue finish while the receiver and fluted cylinder are a high polish blue. The loading lever, hammer, scroll trigger guard and crescent buttplate are color casehardened. The nicely figured, deluxe, walnut stock and forearm have a semi-gloss varnish finish. The receiver top strap is roll-stamped with the early legend: "{ COLT's PT./1856}{ADDRESS COL. COLT/HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.}" in two lines with foliate devices between the two portions of the address. One cylinder flute is roll-stamped: "PATENTED SEPT. 10th 1850". The serial number is stamped: (1) on the bottom of the frame in front of the trigger guard, (2) on the lower receiver tang, (3) on the inside of the trigger guard and (4) on the heel of the buttplate. All of the visible serial numbers match. Small caliber, half-stock revolving cylinder sporting rifles are rare.

Very good. The blue on the barrel and under-lug has developed an attractive plum-blue patina with 50% of the original finish. The receiver retains 75% of the original high polish blue finish with wear along the edges of the cylinder cut-out and flash pitting along the edges of the hammer slot. The cylinder retains 50% of the high polish blue with browning on contact points. The percussion nipples and rear face of the cylinder show moderate flash pitting. The case colors on the loading lever, scroll trigger guard, hammer, cylinder pin and buttplate have faded to a muted silver gray and retain about 50%. The rear sight has 50% of the original niter blue finish. All of the markings and serial numbers are sharp. The action is tight and functions perfectly. The deluxe walnut stock and forearm are both very fine and retain 80% of the original varnish finish. The flat diamond checkering on the stock wrist shows minimal wear, and the stock and forearm have only a few very minor handling and storage marks. This is a very fine example of one of the most desirable variations of the scarce Colt revolving sporting rifle.