Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket Revolver

The Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer, also known as the Colt Root Revolver after its co-designer Elisha K. Root, was an American cap-and-ball single-action pocket revolver designed in 1855 by Root and Samuel Colt and manufactured by Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company from about 1855 to 1870, seeing use during the American Civil War. Built in .28 and .31 caliber versions with 5-round cylinders, Colt produced roughly 30,000 of the .28 caliber model and 14,000 of the .31 caliber model, each weighing about 17 ounces with a 3.5 inch barrel and reaching a muzzle velocity of 700 to 800 feet per second, effective to about 25 yards.