Samuel Colt’s London venture was one of the most ambitious — and short-lived — experiments in mid-19th-century arms production. After the success of his Hartford factory, Colt saw the booming British military market and the Crimean War as an opportunity to expand overseas. In 1853 he opened a factory in London, hoping to win contracts from the British government and to sell his revolvers across Europe without the heavy import duties that made American guns expensive abroad.

The factory was built at Pimlico, on the south side of the Thames near Vauxhall Bridge. It was a state-of-the-art facility for its day, modeled after the Hartford plant, complete with precision machinery, steam power, and the same system of interchangeable parts that made Colt famous. It was staffed with a mix of American craftsmen brought over from Connecticut and newly trained British workers.

Production began in 1853 and focused mainly on the Model 1851 Navy revolver, along with a smaller number of Pocket Models. These London Colts were built to an extremely high standard — in many ways finer than their American counterparts. Fit and finish were exceptional, with beautifully polished blue and case-colored parts and crisp markings that read “ADDRESS COL. COLT LONDON.” Even British officers and civilians who had never handled an American revolver were impressed by the workmanship.

Despite the quality, sales never met expectations. The British War Department was slow to adopt foreign arms, and homegrown makers like Adams and Tranter already had strong followings. Civilian sales couldn’t make up the difference. By 1856, after only about three years in operation, Colt decided to close the London factory. The machinery and remaining parts were shipped back to Hartford, and the building was sold off.

In total, roughly 42,000 revolvers were produced there, and today London-marked Colts are some of the most desirable of all Colt percussion revolvers. The factory itself stood as an early attempt at international mass production — a bold move by Colt that proved ahead of its time, even if it didn’t last.