Colt Model 1849 "Wells Fargo" Pocket Revolver

.31 caliber. 3" octagonal barrel. SN: 140318 (mfg. ca.1858). Blued and color casehardened finish, silver plated brass backstrap and triggerguard, one-piece varnished walnut grip. Single action percussion revolver without an attached loading lever, five-chambered smooth round cylinder, hammer nose notched rear sight and brass post front sight. Barrel with bracketed two-line New York address with Type 2 finials reads: {ADDRESS SAML COLT/NEW YORK CITY}. Lower left of frame with COLTS/PATENT mark and cylinder with the usual Stage Coach Hold Up Scene and COLTS PATENT marking over the serial number. Matching serial numbers throughout, including the wedge, with the exception of the grip which has no visible number. The grip fits very well and is probably original to the revolver. The revolver has the "Long" 2.625" frame which is correct for Wells Fargo revolvers in this serial number range and is also marked with the enigmatic "8" under the frame serial number which is typically encountered on these later production Wells Fargo revolvers. Earlier production long frame Wells Fargos tend to have the "8" under more of the serial numbers.

The term "Wells Fargo" is a modern collector term that essentially encompasses all rammerless Colt Pocket 1849 revolvers and round triggerguard Baby Dragoons. There is no evidence that the Wells Fargo Company acquired these guns or that a substantial number of their employees did, but the design was certainly intended for discreet concealed carry much like the ejectorless "Shop Keeper" or "Sheriff's Model" Single Action Army and 1877 double action revolvers that Colt would produce a couple of decades later. The "Wells Fargo" variants were produced in two major types, the "short frame" variant which utilized many older Baby Dragoon parts and the "Long Frame" variant which was built entirely from current production Pocket revolver parts. The guns were produced in various runs from about 1850 to 1860 with the "Long Frame" guns appearing circa late 1853. Their production was fairly limited and while the name has no relationship to their intended purchasers, the Wells Fargo Pocket Revolver is a scarce and desirable addition to any pre-Civil War Colt revolver collection and to any collection of 1849 Pocket variants.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.