"Colt's Patent " on Frame |
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Most models feature the "Colt's Patent" stamp. It is usually on the left side of the frame, near the front. However variants also appear, in the size of die stamp used (four different sizes throughout the production run from 1848 to 1873); the position of the stamp, and the use of an apostrophe in the word "Colt's" . These are described, with images below. Additional images, showing non-standard variations can be seen by clicking on the image buttons (
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| Type 1 | Small, apostrophe in "COLT'S" |
click on image above for wider view of frame area |
Left side of frame, near centre, with occasional exceptions: |
Baby Dragoon without Rammer | 3 to 1070 (approx.) | |
| 1 - some appear on right side |  |
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| 2 - one has been seen on the left barrel lug | |
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| 3 - early versions had the stamp positioned near the centre of the frame (as image left). They then gradually moved forward, as on #8668 shown here | |
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| Type 2 | Small, no apostrophe |
click on image above for wider view of frame area |
Left side of frame, near centre on early guns, moving forward over time. Most, after approx. #15000 are well forward. Some occasional exceptions as described above. | Baby Dragoon without Rammer | 1070 to 14152 | |
| Baby Dragoon with Rammer | 11670 to 15461 (all) | |||||
| Wells Fargo (short frame) | 14462 to 63348 (all) | |||||
| Wells Fargo (long frame) | 78488 to 100000 | |||||
| 2-Line New York | 14454 to 100000 | |||||
| Type 3 | Medium, no apostrophe |
click on image above for wider view of frame area |
Left side of frame, towards the front. In size, it is between the small (type 2) and the larger (type 3) seen on later 1-line New York addresses. |
Wells Fargo (long frame) | 100000 to 164182 | |
| 2-Line New York | 100000 to 174537 | |||||
| 2-Line Hartford | 174152 to 206532 (all) | |||||
| 1-Line New York | 94501 to 236000 | |||||
| Type 4 | Large, no apostrophe |
click on image above for wider view of frame area |
Left side of frame, towards the front. Generally found from ser # 236000 on, but a few (4) have been seen between ser #s 195700 and 236000. The words are the same length as Type 2, but the letters are taller. |
1-Line New York | 195700 to 332993 | |
