The Colt Model 1855 British Contract Revolving Carbine was manufactured between 1856 and 1864. Colt manufactured approximately 2,000 of these military style carbines for the British market. The carbine has a distinctive 21 inch part octagon barrel with no forearm, .56 caliber five-shot fluted cylinder, brass trigger guard and crescent buttplate. The stock is factory deluxe black walnut with a varnish finish. The barrel has a brass half-moon shaped front sight and a dovetail mounted rear sight with a fixed block graduated to 100 yards and folding leaves graduated to 300 and 600 yards. A staple-mounted sling ring is located on the left side of the receiver. The barrel, cylinder and receiver have a military blue finish and the loading lever and hammer are color casehardened. "COL. COLT HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." is stamped in the sighting groove on the receiver top-strap. "COLT'S PATENT/NOV. 24th 1857" is roll stamped on the left side of the receiver. "PATENTED SEPT. 10th 1850" is roll-stamped in one cylinder flute. London "Crown/CP" and "Crown/V" proof and inspection marks are stamped in each cylinder flute and on the left barrel flat near the breech. The serial number "11828" is visible on the lower receiver tang and on the lower edge of the buttplate. All of the visible serial numbers match. Manufactured in limited numbers and exported, excellent surviving examples of Colt British Contract Revolving Carbines are rare. This exceptional example certainly qualifies for this statement!

Excellent. The carbine retains 90% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish and shows minimal handling wear. Nearly all of the military blue finish is present on the barrel and receiver. The finish on the cylinder is thin but at least 80% intact. The percussion nipples and front and rear faces of the cylinder are free from flash pitting. The carbine shows no firing wear. The hammer and loading lever have nearly all of the casehardened finish and display strong case colors. The brass trigger guard and buttplate have a mellow untouched attractive patina. The highly figured burl walnut stock is excellent, retaining nearly all of the original varnish and shows minimal handling and storage wear. The screw heads retain significant amounts of the niter blue finish. The markings on the barrel, receiver and cylinder are very sharp. The action is excellent. This is an outstanding example of a scarce Colt British Contract Revolving Carbine that would be very difficult to improve upon.