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.31 Colt Thuer Conversion “Pocket” Revolver Cartridge (1868)
Item #: Z8398
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Z8398 .31 Colt Thuer Conversion "Pocket” Revolver Cartridge (1868)
Description: Nice .31 cartridge for use with the .31 Colt Pocket Model 1849 Thuer conversion revolver. F. Alexander Thuer of East Hartford, Connecticut received US Patent No. 82258 on September 15, 1868, for an improvement in revolving firearms.

Thuer states, "My invention relates to the kind of pistol or rifle which has a revolving chambered breech or cylinder capable of being loaded from the front, the principal object of the said invention being to produce a device by which a revolver adapted for the use of loose ammunition can at a small cost be changed, so that cartridges having primed metallic shells may be used.”

In 1868, the bored-through cylinder patent was still held by Rollin White and assigned to Smith & Wesson. Several companies were creating front-loading cartridges to circumvent this patent which was set to expire in 1869. The Colt Thuer conversion revolvers were one of the later examples trying to circumvent the patent. There are four main types of Thuer cartridges with a few variants. The .31 Colt Pocket, .36 Colt "Pocket” Navy, .36 Colt Navy, and the .44 Colt Army. The total number of conversions is around 5,000 with all four types included, making these cartridges quite scarce.

This example is in nice shape. The bullet is lightly oxidized and there is a collection number written near the head. There is also a ghost image where there was a designation written on the side. It has a pointed bullet, a tapered case, and a copper primer. Out of the four main types of Thuer cartridges this is the easiest variant to find.

Headstamp: None
Measures: OAL 1.168” CL .870” HD .312” CM .331” BDaCM .326”
Reference: "U.S. Cartridges and Their Handguns” Suydam Pg. 40
Price: $125.00 UPS Shipping Required



Shipping Weight: 0.5 lb
Your Price$125.00 USD

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Ian Workman

American Civil War Relics & Military Antiques


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