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Colt First Model Dragoon Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,400.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
Colt First Model Dragoon Revolver

Estimate: $3500 - 5500
Colt First Model Dragoon revolver manufactured in 1849. The revolver has the combination of oval cylinder stops and square back trigger guard which identify First Model Dragoon revolvers. Colt manufactured approximately 7,000 First Model Dragoon revolvers in the new Hartford factory between 1848 and 1850. At least 2,000 of these pistols were purchased by the Ordnance Department for issue to the 1st and 2nd Dragoon regiments and the U.S. Mounted Rifles stationed on the Texas, New Mexico and California frontiers. The revolver has a half-round barrel with nickel-silver front sight blade. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped "{ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY}" reading from the breech to the bore. The cylinder has oval stops with a single safety pin and is roll engraved with the Ranger and Indian fight scene and "U.S. DRAGOONS/COLT'S PATENT". The "U.S. DRAGOONS" cylinder marking is rare. "W.L. Ormsby S.C. NY" is roll-engraved below the fight scene. The left side of the frame is stamped "COLTS/PATENT/U.S." in three lines. Ordnance Department single letter sub-inspection marks are stamped on most components. "N" is stamped on the top of the back strap, the bottom of the trigger guard, the cylinder and on the left side of the loading lever. "K" is stamped on the top barrel flat. A small "G" is stamped in front of the trigger guard and "A" is stamped on the left side of trigger guard screw and "K" is stamped on the right side. The full serial number, "6448" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap and on the side of the cylinder. The trigger guard serial number is separated by the trigger guard screw. The partial serial number, "448" is stamped on the loading lever and on the underside of the arbor pin. All of the visible serial numbers match. The wedge is not serial numbered. The walnut grip shows no indication of ever being stamped with Ordnance final inspection and sub-inspection marks. The brass trigger guard and back strap have traces of the silver-plated finish used on commercial production First Dragoon revolvers. The absence of final inspection marks on the grip and silver-plated finish on the trigger guard and back strap indicates that this revolver may have been a military contract overrun that was finished and sold by Colt as a civilian revolver ("U.S." marked frames are found on both commercial and military Dragoon revolvers).
BBL: 7 1/2 inch
Stock:
Gauge: 44 percussion
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 6448
Condition: Good as refinished. Most of the early Dragoon revolvers were used on the frontier prior to the Civil War and inevitably show the effects of hard service. The barrel, frame and cylinder have an even artificial gray patina with lightly textured surfaces due to being cleaned. There is a small spot of deeper pitting on the left side of the frame. The cylinder retains about 40% of the Ranger and Indian fight scene and the percussion nipples have moderate-heavy flash pitting. Traces of silver pitting are visible in protected areas of the trigger guard and back strap. The loading lever has been repaired and lengthened back to it's original length. The revarnished walnut grip is nicely figured and is in good condition with minimal handling wear. All of the serial numbers and the markings on the barrel and frame are sharp. The action functions well. This is a good representative example of a Colt First Model Dragoon revolver.
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