Only around 1,000-1,500 Model 1855 Half-Stock Sporting Rifles were manufactured between around 1857 to 1864. Most of these half-stock rifles had barrels under 30 inches. This rifle is one of only 200 .44 caliber sporting rifles listed with 31 5/16 inch barrels in "The Book of Colt Firearms" by Wilson. For rarity comparison, over 9,300 of the military rifle and rifle-musket versions were manufactured in the same period. This incredibly high condition example has a dovetailed German silver blade front sight, slide adjustable notch rear sight, the two-line address and patent is on the top strap with a hole through the year. One of the cylinder flutes also has the 1850 patent marking. It has the scrolling trigger guard. The barrel, forearm, bottom of the frame, and toe of the buttplate all have the matching serial number. The forearm has a nickel cap, and the stock has multi-point checkering, and the rod extension in the compartment.