1319

COLT THIRD MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 10,000.00 USD
COLT THIRD MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
SN 13977. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 7-1/2" oct to rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line New York City address. Left side of frame is marked with "COLTS PATENT" and the brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip that has the last 4 digits of matching SN in pencil in the backstrap channel, probably spurious markings, although the grip is an orig period Colt grip. Cyl is usual 6 shots with the Dragoon/Indian Fight Scene roll-marking. Part of the roll-marking is obscured by fine pitting. Wedge appears to be correct and bears the number "3917", which is apparently an assembler's mistake. Wedge has a broken spring. According to Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms, there were about 10,500 of these revolvers produced in the period 1851 to about 1861. They were the primary side arm for the Army until about 1855 and remained in service throughout the Civil War and well into the 1870's. They usually saw continuous hard service under adverse conditions with limited maintenance and are rarely found today in orig configuration with any orig finish. CONDITION: Very good to fine. Bbl retains traces of orig finish, being mostly a mottled silver brown patina with some scattered spots of fine pitting; rammer handle retains smoky case colors on pivot and handle; frame retains most of its orig case colors, faded to a grayish smoky case colored patina; hammer retains heavily faded case colors; trigger guard and backstrap are a smooth, medium mustard patina; grip is sound with good edges, showing light to moderate wear, and retains a fine hand worn patina; cyl has two areas of moderate pitting, probably from long term storage in a holster, and overall shows 60-70% Dragoon/Indian Fight Scene; mechanics are fine; very bright shiny bore. 4-47552 JR177