UNUSUAL AND RARE PARTIALLY ENGRAVED COLT CIVILIAN 2ND MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER BELIEVED TO BE MADE AS A DISPLAY PIECE.

SN 9923. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd bbl, slightly altered German silver front sight and 1-line New York City address. Left side of frame is marked with a small “COLT’S PATENT”, about centered on the side. Cyl is usual 6-chambers with “MODEL USMR / COLT’S PATENT” cartouches surrounding the SN. The silver plated brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in backstrap channel. Most unusually the rammer pivot is engraved on both sides in early donut style and the hammer is engraved with a wolf’s head on each side of hammer nose, foliate arabesque patterns on shank and fish scale patterns on side of spur & top edge. Tip of hammer spur is hand checkered with a scalloped border. All of the screw heads are very nicely engraved with the screw tips checkered. A most unusual configuration and the first ever encountered by this cataloger. It is believed that the gun was prepared this way for exhibition purposes to show that the gun could be a) finished plain, b) partially engraved, c) standard engraved, or d) deluxe engraved. Certainly a most unusual piece. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only about 2,700 of these 2nd Model Dragoon revolvers produced in the period 1850-1851. Sidearms of this era, especially the Dragoons, were in great demand on the American frontier and usually saw hard & continuous service under adverse circumstances with little maintenance. They continued in service throughout the Civil War and well into the 1870s until they were supplanted by the advent of self-contained cartridge side arms. With that length & degree of service it is a rarity today to find one with any orig finish or special order features. PROVENANCE: Dr. John & Margaret Pickup Collection. CONDITION: Fine plus, all matching except the wedge which is numbered “046”. Bbl retains 65-70% orig blue, strong over front half, thinning over rear half and flaked on sides of lug; rammer pivot & handle retain strong case colors fading to silver toward the end of the handle; frame has been cleaned to a light gray metal patina; hammer retains dark case colors on left side, faded to silver elsewhere; cyl is a mottled silver/brown patina with one area of fine pin prick pitting and overall retains about 50% Dragoon/Indian fight scene; cyl has a light pressure ridge and all six safety pins are serviceable; trigger guard & backstrap retain most of their strong, orig silver plating with one flaked spot on front strap & some thinning in middle of backstrap and on the heel; screw heads & tips retain most of their orig engraving. Grip is sound, showing light edge wear with a few minor nicks & retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with good shine and moderate pitting. 4-51563 (15,000-20,000) – Lot 2181

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
	2181	$11,500.00	UNUSUAL AND RARE PARTIALLY ENGRAVED COLT CIVILIAN 2ND MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER BELIEVED TO BE MADE AS A DISPLAY PIECE. SN 9923. Cal. 44. Usual configuration with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd bbl, slightly altered German silver front sight and 1-line New York City address. Left side of frame is marked with a small “COLT’S PATENT”, about centered on the side. Cyl is usual 6-chambers with “MODEL USMR / COLT’S PATENT” cartouches surrounding the SN. The silver plated brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in backstrap channel. Most unusually the rammer pivot is engraved on both sides in early donut style and the hammer is engraved with a wolf’s head on each side of hammer nose, foliate arabesque patterns on shank and fish scale patterns on side of spur & top edge. Tip of hammer spur is hand checkered with a scalloped border. All of the screw heads are very nicely engraved with the screw tips checkered. A most unusual configuration and the first ever encountered by this cataloger. It is believed that the gun was prepared this way for exhibition purposes to show that the gun could be a) finished plain, b) partially engraved, c) standard engraved, or d) deluxe engraved. Certainly a most unusual piece. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were only about 2,700 of these 2nd Model Dragoon revolvers produced in the period 1850-1851. Sidearms of this era, especially the Dragoons, were in great demand on the American frontier and usually saw hard & continuous service under adverse circumstances with little maintenance. They continued in service throughout the Civil War and well into the 1870s until they were supplanted by the advent of self-contained cartridge side arms. With that length & degree of service it is a rarity today to find one with any orig finish or special order features. PROVENANCE: Dr. John & Margaret Pickup Collection. CONDITION: Fine plus, all matching except the wedge which is numbered “046”. Bbl retains 65-70% orig blue, strong over front half, thinning over rear half and flaked on sides of lug; rammer pivot & handle retain strong case colors fading to silver toward the end of the handle; frame has been cleaned to a light gray metal patina; hammer retains dark case colors on left side, faded to silver elsewhere; cyl is a mottled silver/brown patina with one area of fine pin prick pitting and overall retains about 50% Dragoon/Indian fight scene; cyl has a light pressure ridge and all six safety pins are serviceable; trigger guard & backstrap retain most of their strong, orig silver plating with one flaked spot on front strap & some thinning in middle of backstrap and on the heel; screw heads & tips retain most of their orig engraving. Grip is sound, showing light edge wear with a few minor nicks & retains most of its orig varnish. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with good shine and moderate pitting. 4-51563 (15,000-20,000) – Lot 2181 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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UNUSUAL AND RARE PARTIALLY ENGRAVED COLT CIVILIAN 2ND MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER BELIEVED TO BE MADE AS A DISPLAY PIECE.