Colt No. 1 Baby Paterson
Patent Arms Manufacturing Company · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1837
Also known as: Baby Paterson, Colt No. 1 Pocket Model, Paterson No. 1
Overview
The Colt No. 1 Baby Paterson is a single-action, five-shot .28 caliber percussion revolver and the smallest of Samuel Colt's Paterson models. Built by the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company in Paterson, New Jersey around 1837-1838, it used a revolving cylinder aligned to a single octagonal barrel and the distinctive Paterson folding trigger that dropped down only when the hammer was cocked. As originally produced it had no attached loading lever, so the shooter had to partially disassemble the revolver to recharge the cylinder. Only about 500 were made, making it one of the rarest and most sought-after early Colt handguns.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 370 g (13.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Barrel Length | 63 mm (2.48") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Effective Range | 20 m (22 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .28 Caliber Percussion · primary — also known as .28 cap and ball, .28 pocket
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Pins Between Nipples
- Features: Revolving Cylinder, Folding Trigger, Single Action Only, Percussion Cap Ignition, No Loading Lever, Concealed Pocket Frame
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Civilian
Production
Estimated total produced: 500 · Production years: 1837-1838
Smallest and rarest of the Colt Paterson models; part of the roughly 2,800 total Paterson-era revolvers produced before the company failed in 1842
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Samuel Colt
Discontinued: 1838
Notes
Also known as the No. 1 Pocket Model. Barrel lengths varied among the roughly 500 examples produced, commonly around 2.5 inches but ranging from about 1.75 to 4.75 inches. Because it lacked a loading lever, later owners sometimes had one added.
Background
The Baby Paterson was a pocket-sized companion to the larger belt and holster Paterson models. Its diminutive .28 caliber frame and folding trigger made it an elegant concealable arm, and its tiny production run of around 500 pieces has made it a prized centerpiece for Colt collectors.