The included factory letter confirms this revolver was shipped with a 4 inch barrel, blue finish, antique ivory grip, factory engraving, and was part of shipment of twenty guns of this type to Colt's office in New York City on February 1, 1861. The revolver has a blued barrel and five-shot cylinder and casehardened loading lever, frame and hammer. The brass trigger guard and back strap are silver plated, and the revolver is fitted with a one-piece grip. The apostrophe used by Colt from 1854-1861 to designate revolvers that were factory engraved is stamped below the serial number on the back strap, trigger guard and frame. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the stagecoach hold-up scene and "COLT'S PATENT" markings. The full serial number, "140158", is located on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "0158" is stamped on the loading lever and cylinder arbor pin. "40158" is stamped on the wedge and cylinder. All of the serial numbers match. The revolver is engraved with Germanic scrollwork on a punch-dot background with an eagle's head on the left side of the barrel lug and wolf's head motif on the sides of the hammer. "SAML COLT" is hand engraved on the top of the barrel, and "COLTS /PATENT" is hand engraved on the side of the frame. The engraving is the work of master engraver Gustave Young or his shop. The engraving covers approximately two-thirds of the barrel, both ends of the wedge, the sides of the loading lever, all of the frame and hammer and substantial portions of the trigger guard and back strap. A Model 1849 Pocket revolver with nearly identical engraving and walnut grips is illustrated on page 105 of "The Book Of Colt Engraving: Volume One" by R.L. Wilson. The revolver is complete with a factory mahogany, American style, five-compartment case lined with blue and maroon velvet. The case is fully equipped with: (1) copper powder flask with embossed eagle and shield design on one side, brown lacquer finish and brass top with nitre blue charger spring, (2) blued, iron, straight-leg, double cavity, bullet mold marked with: "COLT'S/PATENT" on the sprue cutter and "31PKt" on the right block, (3) 100 cap tin of "F. JOYCE & Co." percussion caps with green label and (4) a sealed packet of "6 Combustible Envelope/CARTRIDGES" manufactured by the American Powder Company.

Fine. The revolver has a dark gray patina with traces of the original blue finish on the underside of the barrel and case colors on the bottom of the barrel lug. The trigger guard and back strap retain 90% of the original silver plated finish. The engraving is crisp. The cylinder has 80% plus of the roll-stamped stage hold-up scene. The engraving is deep and crisp. The barrel, frame and cylinder markings are sharp. There is moderate flash pitting on the percussion nipples, the rear of the cylinder and on the sides of the hammer. The barrel breech and front of the cylinder have some moderate flash pitting. The grip is in very good condition with some age shrinkage and several very minor age cracks in the butt. There is a repaired crack on the right side of the grip that extends from the top of the back strap to the butt, and there is a very small chip on either side of the grip. The grip has a very attractive aged patina. The action is tight and functions well. The case is in fine condition with minimal handling and storage wear on the exterior. The interior is in fine condition; the lining is clean and not faded. All of the partitions are complete. Wear is limited to some compression marks from the cylinder and some edge wear on the top of the partition adjacent to the barrel. The flask is in excellent condition and retains about 85% of the brown lacquer finish and most of the nitre blue on the spring. The bullet mold has 80% of the blue finish sharp markings and some scattered surface rust. The cap tin and cartridge packet are sealed and in excellent condition. This is an attractive example of a Gustave Young shop factory engraved and cased Model 1849 Pocket revolver.