Welcome to in the present day’s Photo of the Day! Right here we’ve got an 1852 Colt Mannequin 1849 Pocket revolver with manufacturing facility “donut scroll” engraving attributed to Thomas J. Barlow, later fitted with a Thuer conversion cylinder. This combines early Colt manufacturing facility engraving with the uncommon Thuer metallic cartridge conversion system. Thomas J. Barlow engraved for Colt from mid-1852 via 1854, creating distinctive round scrollwork collectors name “donut scroll.” This revolver reveals his attribute model plus a fowl on the left barrel flat, disgorging masks on the suitable, and patriotic defend on the set off guard.
Alexander Thuer patented Colt’s first metallic cartridge conversion system used from 1869-1872. Solely about 5,000 Thuer conversions have been executed throughout all Colt fashions, with the Mannequin 1849 Pocket being the rarest pocket mannequin conversion. The system used tapered cartridges loaded from the entrance like paper cartridges, requiring a modified cylinder and detachable breech plate with firing pin.
The Thuer cylinder is numbered 87048, from a unique revolver. The bottom gun carries matching serial 29514 on loading lever, barrel, body, set off guard, and butt. Colt provided Thuer conversions to replace percussion revolvers as metallic cartridges turned customary. Prospects may ship weapons again for conversion, or Colt transformed unsold stock. The system allowed switching between percussion and cartridge cylinders in the course of the transition interval.
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“Cased Manufacturing facility ‘Donut Scroll’ Engraved Colt Mannequin 1849 Pocket Mannequin Revolver with Thuer Conversion Cylinder.” Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/1049/3251/cased-donut-scroll-engraved-colt-model-1849-thuer-conversion. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.
Author | TheFirearmBlog
Author | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Previous soul, licensed gunsmith, printed creator, avid firearm historical past learner, and appreciator of outdated and distinctive weapons.
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