RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1848 BABY DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

SN 8065. Cal. .31. Usual configuration with 4″ oct bbl, pin front sight and 2-line, left hand, NY city address, made without rammer. Usual 5-shot cylinder with rnd cylinder stop notches and orig single safety pin. Squareback silver-plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-pc varnished walnut grip matching numbered to this revolver. Revolver is engraved in early vine style with about 70% coverage which also extends down the backstrap, over the buttstrap and trigger guard. Accompanied by an orig burgundy velvet-lined mahogany casing with shield shaped brass lock escutcheon. Case is compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a dbl-sided early “COLTS PATENT” eagle flask, orig brass loading tool, brass 2-cavity “COLTS PATENT” bullet mold without sprue cutter that has a tiny “W” inspector mark. Also accompanying is a lacquered Ely’s cap tin, lead bullets & balls & functioning key. This revolver is of a transitional type with the earlier style left hand bbl address with capping cutout in right recoil shield. Cylinder is usual 5 shots and appears to have remnants of dragoon & Indian fight scene roll marking. There were only about 11,600 Baby Dragoons produced without rammers which certainly makes them one of the more rare Colts. Cased and engraved examples are exceedingly rare. This was Colt’s first attempt at a small bore revolver after the collapse of the Paterson enterprise. They were readily accepted by the American buying public who carried them to the far reaches of the world but especially on the American frontier and Northwest Territories where they saw extensive and continuous service under harsh circumstances usually with very limited maintenance. They continued in service throughout the Civil War into the 1870’s until superseded by the advent of the cartridge revolver. PROVENANCE: Michael Leff Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching including wedge & grip. Overall retains a gray metal patina showing moderate wear with scattered surface erosion. Engraving remains reasonably sharp showing expected wear. Cylinder is matching gray patina with scattered pitting and traces of dragoon Indian fight scene roll marking. Trigger guard and backstrap retain just about all of their orig silver-plating. Grip has a chipped right toe & left heel, otherwise is sound and retains about 70% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong, lightly worn bore. Case is sound with small grain check in bottom and light handling & storage marks and overall retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded & stained with light to moderate soil in the bottom. Accessories are all fine. 4-49640 (20,000-30,000) – Lot 2157

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2157	$0.00	RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1848 BABY DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 8065. Cal. .31. Usual configuration with 4″ oct bbl, pin front sight and 2-line, left hand, NY city address, made without rammer. Usual 5-shot cylinder with rnd cylinder stop notches and orig single safety pin. Squareback silver-plated brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a 1-pc varnished walnut grip matching numbered to this revolver. Revolver is engraved in early vine style with about 70% coverage which also extends down the backstrap, over the buttstrap and trigger guard. Accompanied by an orig burgundy velvet-lined mahogany casing with shield shaped brass lock escutcheon. Case is compartmented in bottom for the revolver, a dbl-sided early “COLTS PATENT” eagle flask, orig brass loading tool, brass 2-cavity “COLTS PATENT” bullet mold without sprue cutter that has a tiny “W” inspector mark. Also accompanying is a lacquered Ely’s cap tin, lead bullets & balls & functioning key. This revolver is of a transitional type with the earlier style left hand bbl address with capping cutout in right recoil shield. Cylinder is usual 5 shots and appears to have remnants of dragoon & Indian fight scene roll marking. There were only about 11,600 Baby Dragoons produced without rammers which certainly makes them one of the more rare Colts. Cased and engraved examples are exceedingly rare. This was Colt’s first attempt at a small bore revolver after the collapse of the Paterson enterprise. They were readily accepted by the American buying public who carried them to the far reaches of the world but especially on the American frontier and Northwest Territories where they saw extensive and continuous service under harsh circumstances usually with very limited maintenance. They continued in service throughout the Civil War into the 1870’s until superseded by the advent of the cartridge revolver. PROVENANCE: Michael Leff Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching including wedge & grip. Overall retains a gray metal patina showing moderate wear with scattered surface erosion. Engraving remains reasonably sharp showing expected wear. Cylinder is matching gray patina with scattered pitting and traces of dragoon Indian fight scene roll marking. Trigger guard and backstrap retain just about all of their orig silver-plating. Grip has a chipped right toe & left heel, otherwise is sound and retains about 70% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong, lightly worn bore. Case is sound with small grain check in bottom and light handling & storage marks and overall retains most of its orig varnish. Interior is lightly faded & stained with light to moderate soil in the bottom. Accessories are all fine. 4-49640 (20,000-30,000) – Lot 2157 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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RARE CASED ENGRAVED COLT MODEL 1848 BABY DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.