230 
G.B. Trotter 
Table 1 Serial numbers and markings of known W.A. Police Colt Revolvers. 
Location 
Revolver no. 
Mismatched part 
Part no. 
Engraved 
Western Australia 
37468 
Cylinder 
37598 
Western 
Western Australia 
37434 
-all matching- 
Western 
South Australia 
37757 
Barrel 
37813 
W. 
Loading lever 
37813 
Cylinder 
37408 
Wedge 
38251 
Victoria 
37854 
-all matching- 
W. 
Victoria 
38244 
Loading lever 
37802 
Not stated 
New South Wales 
37802 
-all matching- 
Not stated 
England 
37931 
Loading lever 
17822 
W. 
Note: The author has inspected the W.A. Museum specimen. All other revolvers are "as reported". 
therefore that all these mismatched numbers came 
from the 23 companion revolvers of the 1859 
shipment. From these parts it is possible to 
determine the serial numbers of ten of the Police 
revolvers. They are 37408, 37434, 37468, 37598, 
37757, 37802, 37813, 37854, 38244 and 38251. The 
sixth. New South Wales, revolver is reported to be 
all matching numbers, yet its serial number, 37802, 
appears on a loading lever on revolver number 
38244. This item is as yet unconfirmed. All other 
revolvers are reported to be London-London type, 
British Proved, steel buttstraps and engraved in 
script, "Police Force Western Australia", or "Police 
Force W. Australia". A seventh revolver has been 
reported from England. It is engraved "Police 
Force W. Australia", and is serial number 37931. 
The loading lever is serial numbered 17822, the 
only part not from the police serial range. This 
English revolver brings the known serial numbers 
to eleven. It is unknown why there are two 
variations in backstrap engravings. Possibly 
"Western" was a mistake made on a few pistols 
which was corrected to plain 'W' on subsequent 
arms. Despite this variation there seems to be no 
doubt that all these revolvers are survivors of the 
1859 shipment of 24 Model 1851 Colts. 
It has not been possible at this time to uncover 
any details of history or issue, but the facts 
presented, even without historical background, still 
represent an important find of a complete shipment 
of historic colonial W.A. Police arms. These arms 
have now been substantially identified, shedding 
light on the little known London production ancf 
colonial purchases. The author would like to 
acknowledge the assistance of Mr Max Laucke of 
South Australia. 
Manuscript received 13 July 1994; accepted 10 November 
1994. 
