While externally similar to a standard Colt 1860 Army cap-and-ball revolver (inset, l.), the gun being discussed is a breech-loading, .44-cal., center-fire, 1860 Army Model Richards-pattern ...

Although we think of Colt percussion revolvers as being an open-top design, there was one exception with a topstrap—the Colt 1855 Sidehammer Pocket Revolver. Also known as the Colt Root Revolver ...

Samuel Colt died only a year into the Civil War, but his company continued to produce new, deadlier models. The 1860 Army Colt shot .44 caliber bullets, which did much more damage.