Brass Trigger Guard From Pistol

[Spats]

I found this several years ago in a campsite used by both Union and Confederates. My best guess is that the campsite was used in 1863. I think it is from a Colt revolver, but not sure. The 155815 serial number would mean an 1859 manufacture date if from a Colt pocket revolver. The date would be 1863 for a Colt Navy and post-war for a Colt Army. There is an "M" or "W" stamped sideways into the left side in the thick part just above and behind the guard. I have read that the pocket pistol trigger guard has different measurements than those for the Army and Navy, but can't find any specs.

Here are my questions:
1.Is this a Colt trigger guard?
2. If a Colt, how can I determine which model?

Thanks.

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

It does appear to be from a Colt - though there were several knock-offs at the time (and later).

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Your brass trigger guard is definitely from a civil war era Colt "cap-&-ball" revolver. The serial number 155,815 is not from a "knockoff" (imitation), which Charlie P. was correct to mention as an ID possibility that must be considered. You can tell which model of Colt by comparing it with the trigger guard on known models, or perhaps a Colt collector here can tell you just by eyeballing it. That's not me, so all I can do is guess it is from a .36 Navy, based on its very high serial number, combined with the fact that the .36 Navy was the most popular model of Colt's cap-&-ball revolvers.

I know that in the past you could contact the Colt company and they'd search their records to see who bought the Colt pistol with your serial number. Then I heard Colt charges a high fee for that, and lately I heard they no longer offer that service. After you find out for certain which model your trigger guard is from, contact the Colt company to find out what the current answer is. Go to the following URL and click on "Contact."
Colt's Manufacturing LLC

 

[Spats]

Thanks CBG. I went to the Colt site and they have an archive department. I checked it out. For the low low price of $200, they will give me information on my $5 trigger guard. I don't think the wife would sign off on that.

I have seen posts in the past in response to Colt trigger guard questions indicating that you can tell if a Colt guard is from a pocket revolver vs, an Army or Navy by measuring the trigger guard. But I saw no mention of the measurements and I can't find anything on-line. Also, I know that at some point, they began stamping the caliber on the trigger guard exactly where my M or W inspector mark is. As mine has no caliber stamp, it predates that time, but again, I can't find an exact date for that change.

Is there a Colt expert out there that can answer either of these questions?

 

[sutphin]

LUCKY DOG, NICE FIND..

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

This site has some information but no detailed dimensions - might be worth trying to contact them

Model Index

 

[NOLA_Ken]

I've seen the inspection stamp on Colt Navy's, (the W or M stamp) if you can determine whether any other models were stamped in that location it might help narrow it down

 

[Fullstock]

It appears to be off of an 1849 pocket colt. Colt has a website where you can check their data base. Here's what I came up with.

 

[Spats]

It appears to be off of an 1849 pocket colt. Colt has a website where you can check their data base. Here's what I came up with.View attachment 1493994View attachment 1493995

Thanks Fullstock. But why the 1849 Pocket rather than an 1851 Navy or an 1860 Army?

 

[Fullstock]

I don't have an 1849 handy to take exact measurements Spats, so it could be a 51, but it looks too small to be an 1860. I've owned a few 1849's and it looks like a guard from one. The dates listed for the serial number would work for a 51 or 49, but the serial number for an 1860 would put it being made in 1865.