Colt Open Top Pocket Model .22 Rimfire, 7-Shot, 2.375 in Barrel, First-Year 1871 Antique Revolver
This Colt Open Top Pocket Model is a first-year 1871 production example of Colt's 7-shot .22 rimfire spur-trigger pocket revolver. It features a 2.375 in round barrel, an open-top design, and a brass bird's-head grip frame with two-piece walnut grips. As an antique U.S.-made Colt with period-correct details, it represents an early iteration from a production run that spanned 1871 to 1877.
Condition
Overall Condition: Poor condition.
Bore Overall Condition: Poor - Noticeable dirt, stains, significant corrosion or damage.
Bore Rifling: Poor Rifling - Rifling heavily worn or filled with fouling or debris.
Specific Condition Notes: The revolver shows signs of wear and handling, with scratches and blemishes. The surfaces display heavy rust, finish loss, and pitting.
What’s Included
- Colt Open Top Pocket Model .22 Rimfire revolver
Manufactured in 1871, this Open Top Pocket Model aligns with the first year of production for the series. It is chambered in .22 rimfire with a 7-shot, non-fluted cylinder that uses rectangular stop notches, reflecting the model's period design and function.
The revolver uses a steel barrel and cylinder paired with a brass frame and receiver. Its bird's-head brass grip frame is fitted with two-piece walnut grips, consistent with Colt's pocket revolver style of the era.
Operation is single-action-only with a spur trigger and a single-action hammer featuring a knurled thumb piece. The open-top layout includes a right-side loading cut, and the cylinder is removed for ejection. A cylindrical base pin or arbor is retained by a spring-latch under the barrel, and there is no external ejector rod.
Sighting is via a fixed front blade and a rear groove. This U.S.-made example sits within a broader production that totaled approximately 114,200 units from 1871 through 1877, highlighting its relevance to collectors focused on early Colt rimfire pocket revolvers.