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Gold Rush Era Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:450.00 USD
Gold Rush Era Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon
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Gold Rush Era Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon Percussion Pocket Revolver, with attached loading lever, #1724, .31 cal., 6'' octagonal barrel with tiny post front sight, 2-line Colt address, and short forcing cone; round 5-shot cylinder with early-style round cylinder stops (and corresponding round bolt in frame) originally roll decorated with the Texas Rangers and Indians fight scene; frame is stamped ''Colts/Patent'' in tiny letters midway between juncture with barrel and trigger screw; the early hammer is without a mainspring roller wheel; brass gripstraps with the early-style thin rear bolsters and distinctive ''square-back'' triggerguard; varnished one-piece walnut ''Slim Jim'' grips show early-style reverse acclivity at butt. Mfg'd 1847. This Baby Dragoon was originally made without a loading lever (lever number obviously does not match, but it is an original Colt part; it has an old period weld repair at its halfway point). Condition is fair to good. Steel parts with a cleaned gunmetal gray age patina over scattered discoloration and pitting; the barrel address is illegible and only traces of cylinder scene remain, but it is mostly obscured by pitting, which is heavy in places; the frame is a dull gunmetal gray with pitting on the left recoil shield, and an old weld repair to the cylinder arbor, but the ''Colts Patent'' marking is clear. Brass gripstraps have an aged patina. Grips are solid with light wear and small losses at toes, but fit well and appear original. Wedge appears to be an original Colt part, but serial number is not legible. All other visible serial numbers match, including cylinder arbor and cylinder (the latter two are faint, but appear to match). Nipples appear original and are un-chipped; action functions crisply; bore is clean with scattered erosion and distinct rifling. The barrel and lever assembly are from an early Colt Model 1849 Pocket revolver, with obscured serial number, an old alteration whose condition matches that of the rest of the pistol.
Est.: $900-$1,500. (Antique)