SCARCE VERY EARLY COLT 1ST MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.

SN 1346. Cal. 44. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line, left hand New York City address. Frame has a small “COLT’S PATENT” over a small “U.S.” centered on the left side. The silver plated brass trigger guard & back strap contain a 1-pc walnut grip similar in shape to the Whitneyville/Hartford Dragoon which used leftover Walker parts. Cyl is usual six chambers with Dragoon/Indian fight scene roll marking and “MODEL U.S.M.R. / COLT’S PATENT” cartouches around the SN. The sgl safety pin is missing. SNs on this revolver are tiny Walker style. Rammer has vertical latch with the assembly number “22” which matches the assembly number on bottom of the bbl. Left side of front strap has the assembly number “14” which is also found in the butt strap channel of the grip. This is one of the very first 1st Model Dragoons made whose SNs overlap with the Whitneyville/Hartford Dragoons. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were about 7,000 1st Model Dragoon revolvers produced in the period 1848-1850. The referenced publication shows that serialization of this model began at about #1341 and that the Whitneyville/Hartford Dragoons ran through about SN 1340. This exact revolver, identified by SN, is pictured on p. 86 of The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, with credit to the Robert Q. Sutherland Collection. These very early Dragoons are very rarely encountered and usually are in near relic condition. This revolver, even though marked with a “U.S.” on the frame was a civilian arm and undoubtedly would have seen service on the American frontier. Every one of the 1st Model Dragoons were sold out to the U.S. Government, private customers or foreign governments. Mr. Colt, anticipating stronger military contracts, simply had the entire production of frames marked with a “U.S.”. The contracts did not materialize and so he simply assembled revolvers utilizing those already produced frames. PROVENANCE: Robert Q. Sutherland Collection; Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge & cyl; rammer & grip are matching assembly numbered. Bbl retains about 90% dull restored blue; rammer retains traces of case colors under a blue finish; frame is a mottled blue/brown patina, possibly artificially aged and has a hairline crack below the trigger screw on the left side; hammer is also blued; cyl, possibly a period of use replacement, has the correct tiny SNs and retains about 98% crisp Dragoon/Indian fight scene roll marking with a distinctive shallow pressure ridge; trigger guard & back strap retain about 90% strong silver, probably applied at the time of restoration. Grip is sound with a few nicks & dings and retains a restored varnish finish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. The hammer spring retaining lug on the front strap under the grip appears to be partially chipped and does not hold the spring securely. 4-49975 JR176 (5,000-8,000) – Lot 2180

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
	2180	$14,160.00	SCARCE VERY EARLY COLT 1ST MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SN 1346. Cal. 44. Blue & color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line, left hand New York City address. Frame has a small “COLT’S PATENT” over a small “U.S.” centered on the left side. The silver plated brass trigger guard & back strap contain a 1-pc walnut grip similar in shape to the Whitneyville/Hartford Dragoon which used leftover Walker parts. Cyl is usual six chambers with Dragoon/Indian fight scene roll marking and “MODEL U.S.M.R. / COLT’S PATENT” cartouches around the SN. The sgl safety pin is missing. SNs on this revolver are tiny Walker style. Rammer has vertical latch with the assembly number “22” which matches the assembly number on bottom of the bbl. Left side of front strap has the assembly number “14” which is also found in the butt strap channel of the grip. This is one of the very first 1st Model Dragoons made whose SNs overlap with the Whitneyville/Hartford Dragoons. According to Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms there were about 7,000 1st Model Dragoon revolvers produced in the period 1848-1850. The referenced publication shows that serialization of this model began at about #1341 and that the Whitneyville/Hartford Dragoons ran through about SN 1340. This exact revolver, identified by SN, is pictured on p. 86 of The Book of Colt Firearms, Wilson, with credit to the Robert Q. Sutherland Collection. These very early Dragoons are very rarely encountered and usually are in near relic condition. This revolver, even though marked with a “U.S.” on the frame was a civilian arm and undoubtedly would have seen service on the American frontier. Every one of the 1st Model Dragoons were sold out to the U.S. Government, private customers or foreign governments. Mr. Colt, anticipating stronger military contracts, simply had the entire production of frames marked with a “U.S.”. The contracts did not materialize and so he simply assembled revolvers utilizing those already produced frames. PROVENANCE: Robert Q. Sutherland Collection; Collection of Dr. Douglas Sirkin. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including wedge & cyl; rammer & grip are matching assembly numbered. Bbl retains about 90% dull restored blue; rammer retains traces of case colors under a blue finish; frame is a mottled blue/brown patina, possibly artificially aged and has a hairline crack below the trigger screw on the left side; hammer is also blued; cyl, possibly a period of use replacement, has the correct tiny SNs and retains about 98% crisp Dragoon/Indian fight scene roll marking with a distinctive shallow pressure ridge; trigger guard & back strap retain about 90% strong silver, probably applied at the time of restoration. Grip is sound with a few nicks & dings and retains a restored varnish finish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of light pitting. The hammer spring retaining lug on the front strap under the grip appears to be partially chipped and does not hold the spring securely. 4-49975 JR176 (5,000-8,000) – Lot 2180 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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SCARCE VERY EARLY COLT 1ST MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER.