Colt Cartridge Conversions

COLT CARTRIDGE CONVERSIONS
THUERS MODEL CONVERSIONS . Thuers model conversions were done on the following model guns manufactured by Colt: 1848 --1849 --1851 -- 1861--1862 Police models --Dragoons and model 1855 side hammers . The caliber's converted were 31 -- 36 -- 44. These were converted from 1868 to 1872. Many of these conversions will be of very low serial numbers mostly 4 digits and lower. Total pieces converted: Approximately 5000
RICHARDS CONVERSIONS of model 1860 Army. Caliber's converted to is 44 CF caliber. New frames serialized from 1 to 8700. Percussion frames from 67100 to 200614. Conversions were made from 1873 to 1878 . Also in 1871, Colt began converting various models of their percussion revolvers to use metallic cartridges, based on Charles B. Richards' patent. Also in 1871, Colt began converting various models of their percussion revolvers to use metallic cartridges, based on Charles B. Richards' patent, which was granted on July 25th of that year. An Army contract for converting the first of these percussion revolvers was awarded to Colt in anticipation of the expiration of the Rollin White patent in February of 1871, which required the company to convert 1,000 Model 1860 revolvers to use the .44 Martin primed centerfire cartridge manufactured at the Frankford Arsenal." An Army contract for converting the first of these percussion revolvers was awarded to Colt in anticipation of the expiration of the Rollin White patent in February of 1871, which required the company to convert 1,000 Model 1860 revolvers to use the.44 Martin primed centerfire cartridge manufactured at the Frankford Arsenal." Total pieces converted : 9000
\| RICHARDS MASON CONVERSIONS of 1860 Army. Caliber Converted to is 44 CF Caliber. New frame serial numbers ran from 5800 to 7900. Serial numbers lapped serial numbers of Richards model conversions. Total pieces produced : 2100
Colt 1851 Navy Conversions. These were converted to 38 rimfire and 38 centerfire. New frame serials ran from 1 to 3800; percussion frames ran from 39900 to 91000. These were all manufactured in 1872 . Total pieces produced: 3800
Model 1861 Navy Conversions. These were converted to 38 rimfire and 38 center fire calibers; most were in centerfire caliber. New frame serial numbers ran from 1 to 3300 and were shared with 51 Navy conversion serial numbers and percussion frame numbers ran from 1 to 10356. Manufactured from 1872 to 1878. Total pieces produced : 2250
1862 Police and Pocket Navy Conversions. These were converted to 38 centerfire and 38 rimfire calibers. First serial number range with new frames from 1 to 19000 in 1862 models. Percussion frames in 1849 and 1862 models were of high serial numbers, mostly of the last serials of this model's production. Total pieces produced : 25000

We recommend the following books for more information on these models:
A STUDY OF COLT CONVERSIONS by R. Bruce McDowell
For Factory letters Contact : Kathy Hoyt
Colt's Manfacturing Co Inc
Historical Research
PO Box 1868
Hartford Ct. 06144
Phone from 1 to 4 pm -1 860 236 6311
Fax information to including all markings to: 860 244 1439