Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This tiny Colt represents one of the company’s more obscure chapters – a pocket revolver that tried to bridge cap-and-ball nostalgia and cartridge convenience, but ended up pleasing nobody. The Open Top Pocket was manufactured from 1871 to 1877, and this 1875 example shows why it never caught on.
The “open top” design was Colt’s attempt to convert their successful pocket percussion revolvers to rimfire cartridges without completely redesigning the frame. Instead of adding a top strap like modern revolvers, they kept the cylinder exposed at the top and relied on the barrel extension for structural support. It worked, but looked antiquated even when it was new. That .22 rimfire chambering made sense for a pocket gun – low recoil, quiet report, cheap to shoot. The 2⅜-inch barrel provided just enough velocity to be effective at close range without making the gun too bulky for concealed carry. But by 1875, shooters were moving toward more powerful cartridges and more modern designs.
The engraving on this one elevates it above the typical working man’s pocket pistol. Someone paid extra to dress up what was essentially Colt’s budget offering, which says something about the owner’s priorities. The nickel finish was also an upgrade – most came blued, but nickel was more corrosion-resistant and looked fancier. This design influenced later pocket revolvers. The basic concept of a small-frame .22 for personal protection lived on in guns like the Colt New Line series and eventually the modern Detective Special family. This little gun was testing ideas that would become standard decades later.
The mechanical function despite the visible wear and pitting speaks to Colt’s manufacturing quality. These pocket guns took a beating from daily carry, but the actions were robust enough to keep working even when the finish was long gone. The hard rubber grips were another practical touch – better traction than wood and held up better to sweat and abuse. By 1877, Colt had moved on to more modern designs like the Lightning double-action. The Open Top Pocket was a transitional design that got swept aside by progress, making survivors like this one historical curiosities rather than collectible classics.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
Engraved Colt Open Top Pocket Revolver | Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5013/19/engraved-colt-open-top-pocket-revolver. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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