Help: Unknown proof stamp on 1849 Colt Pocket Revolver

[Big Paulie]

Dear Guys,

    I have a model 1849 Colt Pocket Pistol, manufactured in 1852.  It has a six inch barrel.

    On the left side of the brass trigger guard, at the front of the guard, on the flat place where where the guard meets the frame, there is a stamp I cannot ID.

  It appears to be a heavy "O" with a thick stem coming out of the top and curving to the left.  Perhaps it is a burning bomb?

  Can anyone tell me what this means?  On the left side of the guard, at the rear of the guard, there is a stamped "T" which I understand was one of the inspectors at the colt factory.

Thanks for any information.

Best Regards,  Big Paulie

[Flint]

The circle with a stem is an Ordnance stamp, shaped like an old fashioned bomb, a ball with a fuse.  Many  Baby Dragoons were carried in the Civil War as backup guns.

[Big Paulie]

The circle with a stem is an Ordnance stamp, shaped like an old fashioned bomb, a ball with a fuse.  Many  Baby Dragoons were carried in the Civil War as backup guns.

Thanks very much Flint, but what does this mean as far as the revolver?  Does it mean that it was purchased new from Colt by the U.S. government, and then inspected and stamped by the Army with the ordinance stamp, and then issued to an officer?

If not, then how else would an ordinance stamp get placed on a revolver?

(Sorry to be so ignorant about this.)

Thanks for all replies.   Paul Amos

[Flint]

Maybe it was repaired by an Army facility.  I will research a bit to see if the Fed Govt ever purchased any.  Obvoiusly the Govt bought Dragoons, Armies and Navies, but it's possible they either bought or serviced the small gun.

[Big Paulie]

Flint,

Thanks very much for any information that you might find.

Paul Amos