Colt Cloverleaf House Pistol
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company · Revolver · Discontinued · 1871
Also known as: Colt House Model Revolver, Colt Cloverleaf, Colt House Pistol
Overview
The Colt Cloverleaf House Pistol is a single-action, spur-trigger pocket revolver chambered in .41 Short Rimfire, produced by Colt from 1871 to 1876. It was Colt's first solid-frame revolver designed specifically for metallic cartridges, and its four-shot deeply fluted cylinder resembles a four-leaf clover when viewed from the front, giving the gun its nickname. A five-shot round-cylinder version was also produced under the broader House Pistol name.
Specifications
| Overall Length | 171 mm (6.73") |
| Barrel Length | 76 mm (2.99") |
| Action Type | Single Action Revolver |
| Firing Mechanism | Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Sheathed Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 4 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 130 m/s (427 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 71 J (52 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 10 m (11 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Brass |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Silver Plated |
Calibers
- .41 Short Rimfire · primary — also known as .41 Short, .41 Rimfire Short
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Recessed Chambers
- Features: Solid Frame, Cloverleaf Fluted Cylinder, Spur Trigger, Bird Head Grip, Pocket Revolver
Variants
- Colt House Pistol 5-Shot — Round Cylinder
Production
Estimated total produced: 9,900 · Production years: 1871-1876
About 6,161 of the 4-shot Cloverleaf version before it was replaced by the 5-shot round-cylinder House model; combined production roughly 9,900.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Discontinued: 1876
Notes
Made with 1.5 in, 2-5/8 in, and 3 in barrels. Recessed chambers were a safety feature for the rimfire rounds. The 4-shot cloverleaf cylinder was later replaced by a 5-shot round cylinder.
Background
The Cloverleaf marked Colt's transition from percussion revolvers into the metallic-cartridge era, arriving the same year Colt was developing the cartridge conversions that would lead to the Single Action Army.