Here's an excellent pistol with an interesting history. This Colt 1849 "Pocket" revolver is in excellent condition; especially considering the revolver's early production date of 1856. These Pocket Colts were extremely popular "private purchase" weapons with both the Union and the Confederacy; to the point that the 1849 Colt is the most commonly encountered weapon found in original posed studio portraits of Civil War soldiers. This pistol has a few "war stories" of its own, as evidenced by the the small inscription found on its back strap. Neatly engraved in a small 19th Century script-style font, the words "JOHN W. MAUK Co F. 138th Pa Infantry - From His Friends" can clearly be read. This appears to be a reference to Yankee Corporal John W. Mauk, the man who is credited with shooting Confederate general AP Hill during the Siege of Petersburg, April 2nd, 1865. If this inscription could be proven to be legitimate with documentation or some other provenance, this pistol would easily be worth a small fortune due to its historical significance. However, we purchased this pistol as part of the estate of a now deceased gun collector; and despite our efforts and the efforts of the family to recover some documentation or other provenance relating to the gun's history, we have come up empty handed. As a result we are offering this pistol for a price that is comparable to what most Model 1849 Colts sell for, without adding any premium for the inscription. As always, further research by the pistol's new owner may prove fruiful.
This Pocket is in great condition with a desirable 4" barrel length. The gun's action functions reliably with a positive lock up and minimal play in the cylinder. The hammer has a positive half and full cock.
The barrel is in excellent condition. The Colt address stamp is intact and fully legible. There is no wobble in the barrel whatsoever. The bore is in great shape with good with sharp rifling and some minor scattered pitting throughout. This revolver would make for a fantastic shooter!!
The cylinder matches the barrel in condition. Each one of the chambers good with no major pitting or erosion. The serial number is clearly visible on the cylinder and matches the rest of the gun. Most of the cylinder scene is still visible, which is a rare feature for a pocket Colt.
The grips, trigger guard, back strap, and loading lever are all original and all matching.
