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SECTION III

COLT’S REVOLVERS & THE METALLIC CARTRIDGES

METALLIC CARTRIDGE CONVERSIONS

The transitional era from muzzleloading to breechloading was not the Colt’s company’s finest hour. That was still to come. In fact, hemmed in by Smith & Wesson’s exclusive rights to the Rollin White patent for bored-through chambers to accommodate breechloading metallic cartridges, Colt struggled to maintain the lustre of its name and market share. It was not until 1869 that the White patent expired, and even then, Colt was not prepared with new models.

So from the waning of the percussion era until 1872 Colt took in non-firearm manufacturing business (even manufacturing sewing machines) and worked feverishly on new firearm designs. In the four years between the end of the Civil War and 1869, when it became clear that breechloading cartridges were the future and would soon replace all of their designs, Colt struggled with diminishing sales of its muzzleloading guns.

Between 1869 and 1972, Colt produced a number of models that are variously considered “conversions.” These weapons were Colt percussion revolvers that were reworked to accommodate metallic cartridges. None can be considered entirely successful.

Model 1851 Navy Thuer Conversion.

Model 1860 Army Thuer Conversion.

THUER CONVERSION

Although quite simplistic and not commercially successful, the Thuer Conversion (named after gunsmith and patent holder F. Alexander Thuer) was brought out in 1869 and remained in the line until 1872 for a total of about 5,000 guns. It was the strongest attempt by Colt to circumvent former employee Rollin White’s patent (which had been sold to Smith & Wesson) and to convert remaining Colt percussion revolvers to the new metallic cartridge system. This conversion was designed around the proprietary, tapered Thuer cartridge and consisted of a ring that replaced the back part of the cylinder, which had been milled off. The ring is stamped “PAT. SEP. / 15. 1868.” The ejection position is marked with the letter “E.” These conversions have rebounding firing pins and were milled to allow loading from the front of the revolver cylinder. All Thuer Conversions were six-shot revolvers. This conversion was undertaken on the six different models listed; and all other specifications, finishes, markings, etc., not directly affected by the conversion would be the same as previously described. From a collectible and investment standpoint, the Thuer Conversion is very desirable. About 5,000 revolvers were altered in the years 1869 to 1870. Competent appraisal should be secured if acquisition is contemplated.

MODEL 1849 POCKET CONVERSION (.31 CAL. )

MODEL 1851 NAVY CONVERSION (.36 CAL. )

MODEL 1860 ARMY CONVERSION (.44 CAL. )

Model 1861 Navy Thuer Conversion.

Richards Conversion 1860 Army.

MODEL 1861 NAVY CONVERSION (.36 CAL. )

MODELS 1862 POLICE CONVERSION (.36 CAL. )

MODEL 1862 POCKET NAVY CONVERSION (.36 CAL. )

NOTE: Blued models will bring higher prices than nickel models in the same condition.

RICHARDS CONVERSION, 1860 ARMY REVOLVER

The Richards Transformation was Colt’s second attempt at metallic cartridge conversion and it met with quite a bit more success than the Thuer Model. The Richards Conversion was designed for the .44 Colt cartridge and has a six-shot cylinder and an integral ejector rod to replace the loading lever that had been removed. The other specifications pertaining to the 1860 Army Revolver remain as previously described if they were not directly altered by the conversion. The Richards Conversion adds a breechplate with a firing pin and its own rear sight. Approximately 9,000 of these conversions were manufactured on the basis of a number of the old caplock designs and parts between 1873 and 1878: the .44-caliber M1860 revolver (1,153 converted for the army in 1871), the .36-cal. M1851 and M1861 and 368 .38-cal. rimfire adaptations, which went to the navy in 1873.

NOTE: The following advertisement appeared in the Spring of 2007 at AntiqueGunList.com: