1862 Colt Pocket Navy Caliber .36 Barrel length: 5 ½" This Colt was a five shot revolver. This weapon used percussion caps for ignition. Though it was still a muzzleloader, the cylinder could fire six rounds before it needed to be reloaded. It was referred to as a single-action since the hammer had to be cocked each time before it was fired. Colt experimented with a double-action design but felt that it was too prone to failure. The idea of the pocket model was to it make a pistol that is easier to carry and conceal. An earlier pocket model in 1849 used a smaller .31 caliber bullet so this gun was an improvement in power. These were produced between 1862 and 1873. This revolver is reported to have belonged to the outlaw Nathaniel Reed, alias Texas jack.
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Last updated: April 10, 2015