Colt Model 1855 (Root Revolver)

History of the Colt Model 1855 (Root Revolver)

Early Colt revolvers used a so-called "open frame" design, meaning no support structure was mounted on the rotating cylinder, making them less robust than competing Remington revolvers. That all changed with Colt's newest pistol - the Model 1855 - designed by Samuel Colt himself and developed by Colt employee Elijah Root.

As such, the revolver is known by several nicknames, including "Root Revolver" and "Root Model Revolver." The guns are from the Colt Patent Gun Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut.

Key to the design of the Model 1855 was a jacketed five-shot cylinder with a frame that ran up and down for a more stable weapon. Depending on the product, the barrel is either smooth or grooved, and is placed above and in front of the ergonomic, wood-covered curved pistol grip. In addition, some models of 1855 were sold with cylinders inscribed with typical anti-Indian sentiments or modern wagon raids.

The trigger is a bolt-on trigger with a single-acting lock and no trigger ring. A key element about the Model 1855 was the use of a side-mounted hammer that was attached to the left side of the gun body and bolted along the right side. The hammer has a very unique spur design that is almost vertical.

A visible screw holds the cylindrical pin in place through the rear of the weapon. There are barrels of different lengths of course mounted in front of the receiver.

Model 1855 is available in barrel lengths of 3.5, 4 and 4.5" components. It also came in. The 28 and .31 caliber shapes made the revolver relatively easy to handle and fire, but quickly proved lacking in stopping people. The Model 1855 used a shock-based ignition system that included bulk powder, primer, bullets, and paper cartridges - also known as "caps and balls".

The bullet weighed 47 grains, had a charge of 12 grains, and had an initial velocity of 750 feet per second.

Specification

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Changes