This is a solid example of a Colt Model 1839 Carbine that was manufactured at the Paterson, New Jersey, factory c. 1838-1841 and subsequently modified and refinished by Samuel Colt c. 1848. Also known as the "Albert Foster Carbine" this carbine is one of approximately fifty Model 1839 Carbines sold to Rhode Island by John Ehlers and repurchased by Samuel Colt in 1848. Colt modernized the carbines by turning and altering the cylinders to accept the same rachet mechanism used in Colt Hartford revolvers. The carbines were refinished with a bright cylinder without roll-engraving, browned barrels and high polish blue frames. This carbine has a smooth bore 24 inch part-round/part-beveled barrel with brazed lug. The lug is not fitted with a loading lever and has a flat, two-groove wedge and second transverse slot behind the wedge slot. The barrel has a pin front sight and dove tail mounted block rear sight. A Colt sling swivel is mounted on the bottom of the barrel lug. The six-shot round-back 2 1/2 inch cylinder has the modified Hartford ratchet and smooth exterior with no roll-engraving or Colt markings. The frame has been modified to eliminate the cylinder turning ring and incorporate the ratchet system. The left side of the frame has a flared recoil shield and the right side has a shallow capping groove. The frame has a scroll-shaped trigger guard. The walnut stock has a varnished finish and is fitted with a sling swivel and iron buttplate. The right side of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line legend "-Patent Arms M'g Co. Paterson N.J.- Colt's Pt.-" with "snake" and "star terminals" at either end of the marking. The serial number "419" is stamped on the bottom of the wedge, the inside of the recoil shield and on the rear face of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. The barrel is browned, the frame and wedge have a high polish blue finish and the cylinder appears to have originally been bright.

Very good. The carbine retains 30% of the factory refurbished brown and blue finish. Most of the brown finish is present on the barrel and lug and the balance has aged to a smooth brown patina. The wedge retains traces of the high polish blue finish. The factory legend on the right side of the lug is sharp. The cylinder has a smooth brown patina with traces of the original bright finish in protected areas; there is no flash pitting on the percussion nipples or the front and rear face of the cylinder. The frame has 40% of the high polish blue finish remaining, mostly on the recoil shield and upper tang. The balance of the frame, trigger guard and buttplate have a smooth gray/brown patina. The stock is very good with scattered light handling and storage marks and about 70% of the original varnish finish. This is a scarce example of a scarce variation of the Colt Model 1839 Carbine.