I purchased this Colt in August 2006. I learned something recently.
I had never taken this revolver apart. What I found out is that unlike other Colt revolvers of the period where the serial number was on the outside of the cylinder the serial number on the 62 Police is on the rear of the cylinder between the cylinder pins.
Usually pretty hard to see.
This photo was as good as I could get---- numbers 6 and 5 at the top of the photo --part of the serial number of 16534.
I have seen this explanation regarding faint or no visible serial numbers on the rear of the cylinder.
"The partial serial number on the cylinder of the 1862 was placed above the safety pins where the hammer would rest. Being a wartime gun, it was used quite a bit resulting in the pins being worn and the numbers no longer being very legible".
This Model 1862 Police revolver is serial numbered 16534 with a 4 ½” barrel.
.36 caliber, five- shot rebated cylinder with half flutes.
All matching serial numbers except for the cylinder wedge with is not numbered.
What is confusing is that some early 62 Colt Police revolvers have a stamped serial number in one of the cylinder flutes---some don’t.
This is any early example that shows the stamped serial number in one of the flutes.
The books don’t mention these variations.
This is what Robert Reilly’s Book says.
Sam Colt died on January 10th 1862 ---so he 'might' be upset with 'some' cylinder serial number stamping confusion that was left behind regarding his last model percussion revolver for collectors today.
I had never taken this revolver apart. What I found out is that unlike other Colt revolvers of the period where the serial number was on the outside of the cylinder the serial number on the 62 Police is on the rear of the cylinder between the cylinder pins.
Usually pretty hard to see.
This photo was as good as I could get---- numbers 6 and 5 at the top of the photo --part of the serial number of 16534.
I have seen this explanation regarding faint or no visible serial numbers on the rear of the cylinder.
"The partial serial number on the cylinder of the 1862 was placed above the safety pins where the hammer would rest. Being a wartime gun, it was used quite a bit resulting in the pins being worn and the numbers no longer being very legible".
This Model 1862 Police revolver is serial numbered 16534 with a 4 ½” barrel.
.36 caliber, five- shot rebated cylinder with half flutes.
All matching serial numbers except for the cylinder wedge with is not numbered.
What is confusing is that some early 62 Colt Police revolvers have a stamped serial number in one of the cylinder flutes---some don’t.
This is any early example that shows the stamped serial number in one of the flutes.
The books don’t mention these variations.
This is what Robert Reilly’s Book says.
Sam Colt died on January 10th 1862 ---so he 'might' be upset with 'some' cylinder serial number stamping confusion that was left behind regarding his last model percussion revolver for collectors today.
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