Following the bankruptcy of the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company in Paterson, New Jersey in 1841, creditor and former company treasurer John Ehlers assumed control of the inventory. Between 1842 and 1843, Ehlers finished and marketed roughly 536 No. 1 Pocket Models. His design introduced a factory-installed loading lever directly beneath the barrel—a crucial mechanical innovation that eliminated the need to disassemble the barrel wedge to reload.

Mechanical & Structural Highlights

• Serial Number & Production: Matching Serial No. 93, placing it in the earliest run of the 536 completed examples.

• Barrel & Caliber: 3-inch octagonal barrel chambered in .28 percussion caliber, featuring a 5-shot revolving cylinder.

• Integral Loading Lever: Factory-installed Ehlers-pattern hinged rammer and latch assembly seated cleanly under the barrel lug.

• Trigger & Grips: Characteristic Paterson concealed folding trigger that extends automatically upon full cock, paired with original one-piece varnished walnut grips.

• Condition & Patina: Retains crisp cylinder roll-scene engraving, legible barrel markings, and smooth plum-brown antique patina.

Source & Provenance (Sauce)

• Manufacturer: Completed by John Ehlers, Paterson, New Jersey (c. 1842–1843).

• Origin of Parts: Fabricated by Samuel Colt’s original Patent Arms Manufacturing Co. and fitted with Ehlers’ patented loading lever improvements.

• Serial Inspection: Serial No. 93 stamped across matching sub-assemblies in period-correct Paterson dies.

• Rarity Tier: Peak rarity in early American arms collecting; fewer than an estimated 150 examples are known to survive today.

Availability

Available at: Armfoundry.com