Description
Also called the Colt Model 1855 Side Hammer, the Root was an incredibly popular antebellum weapon commonly carried in the Civil War by soldiers who wanted some backup.
On Christmas day in 1855, Elisha Root, the Colt Factory Superintendent, patented a prototype revolver design that represented Colt’s first solid-frame, spur-trigger gun. The patent featured a unique side mounted hammer and evolved into a separate line of Colt revolvers. From 1855 to 1873, the Colt 1855 Root revolver designs were manufactured in seven different variants chambered in either .28 or .31 caliber. The octagon barrels appeared in the first through fourth series of Root pistols, with Colt opting for round barrels on the fifth through seventh variations.
This fine pistol recently surfaced at an estate sale in northwest Florida with a history of having been carried by a Southern soldier, but there is no solid documentation to support the story. The revolver has a strong action and works correctly and the barrel marking is crisp and clear. Overall, the piece exhibits a smooth gray brown patina overall and the bore rifling is strong and distinct.
