This rifle is one of the 101 first contract Model 1855 rifles purchased by the U.S. Government and known to fall in the 1-301 serial number range. These Colt revolving rifles were the first repeating rifles used by the U.S. military, and according to R.L. Wilson in "The Book of Colt Firearms" are "considered the rarest of Hartford contract arms." Some of the pre-war examples like this one ended up in Confederate hands at the beginning of the war. 4,712 additional larger caliber revolving rifles and carbines were purchased for use by Union forces during the Civil War. This one is also one of only 400 in this caliber and barrel length and has a German silver replacement blade front sight, brass forend cap, provisions for the standard rear sight, "C COLTS/PATENT/US" on the upper tang, "71" on the bottom of the frame and the lower tang, "CGC" and "WAT" cartouches on the wrist, a small trapdoor on the buttplate and a cleaning rod in the compartment, and three crosses hand-cut into the buttplate at the toe above the matching serial number.

Very good with streaks of original blue finish and otherwise mottled brown patina, light oxidation and pitting, and various marks and scratches. The top of the frame has evidence of filing. The rear sight is absent. The brass has aged patina. The wood is very good with minor scratches and dings, faint cartouches, and minor cracking at the edge of the cleaning rod channel. Mechanically fine.