Colt 1871 Cloverleaf House Revolver, .41 Rimfire, 3-Inch Barrel, Brass Frame, 4-Shot
This first-year Colt Cloverleaf House Revolver stands out as an early metallic-cartridge pocket gun from Colt’s brief 1871–1876 production run of fewer than 10,000 units. Serial number 1525 places it squarely in the inaugural year, giving collectors a rare example of Colt’s four-shot “cloverleaf” cylinder design paired with a brass frame and blued steel barrel.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair – Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling – Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Minor to moderate scratches, scuffs, and blemishes are visible on the metal surfaces, yet the revolver retains a pleasing aged appearance and the action operates smoothly for its era.
What’s Included
- Colt Cloverleaf House Revolver (manufactured 1871)
The distinctive four-shot, fluted cylinder gives the revolver its “cloverleaf” nickname and illustrates Colt’s experimental approach to increasing capacity in a compact frame.
The 3-inch blued steel barrel incorporates an external full-length ejector rod—an early solution for spent-case removal before swing-out cylinders became standard.
A brass frame with matching brass receiver contrasts sharply with the blued barrel and cylinder, creating the classic two-tone look prized by antique Colt enthusiasts.
The spur trigger, external spur hammer, and birds-head varnished wood grips reflect Colt’s transitional design language as the company shifted from percussion to metallic-cartridge firearms.
Chambered in .41 Rimfire and classified as an antique, this full-size pocket revolver offers collectors a tangible link to Colt’s early cartridge era and remains mechanically functional despite its 1871 manufacture date.