Some time back John Taffin was sharing with some of us about his on-going tests of blackpowder cap and ball pistols. He posted some really nice photos of various one and among them he had some pictures of the 1862 Colt Police Model in .36 caliber. I had been looking at these online and the fact that you can order one and have it shipped directly to you just like you could with almost any firearm back when America was a free country made the little pistol really attractive. I mentioned to John if he didn't quit posting photos it was gonna cost me some money!

At the same time I received an email from a friend asking me what barrel length I preferred. I said I liked them all but the 4 1/2" was the most attractive to me. A couple days later a package was delivered to me and in it was a beautiful 1862 Colt Police pistol!

When I told my friend I would get it right back to him after I shot it awhile he said "No .. it is a gift!" I was amazed .. and grateful.

I gathered the stuff together to shoot it. I had to buy some round balls of .375" .. .376" diameter. Later I bought a mold and cast my own. I had a few hundred #11 percussion caps that I had kept from the 1980's and 1990's. And SPG lube. A little 3f blackpowder and several pounds of Pyrodex P powder was in my powder magazine.

First shots were with Pyrodex P. The load was fairly light and hit quite high at 50 feet. About 12" high. But first shots showed promise.
(Edit: for some reason in the initial writing I wrote "low" when it hit really high)

Over the next few weeks I made a ball seater for the cylinder =

and gathered up all the stuff you need when shooting cap and ball guns ... nipple wrench, nipple pick, bushes, lube, etc. etc.

I cut the rear sight notch deeper and got the shots closer to the sights
BEFORE

AFTER

A full load of 3Fg black is fairly powerful. It was not looked down upon in its day.

I really like this little pistol. It is light, handy and packs a punch.

These were almost the epitome of Colt's blackpowder designs. The loading lever is the same design as the 1860 Army's .. which was a huge step forward from the old loading levers. The guns were finished very nicely and they handled really well. The replica's of today do an excellent job of re-creating a fine old firearm.

Oh yeah .. this one is imported by Taylor's ... making it all the more desirable to me.