EXTREMELY RARE COLT WHITNEYVILLE HARTFORD 2ND CONTRACT DRAGOON REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE COLT WHITNEYVILLE HARTFORD 2ND CONTRACT DRAGOON REVOLVER. SN 2464. Cal. 44. Rare 2nd contract revolver, often referred to as the “Fluck” Model, with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd reworked Walker bbl that has German silver front sight and address that reads from cylinder to muzzle and has Dragoon 1st Model style verticle latch on rammer lever. Left side of frame has “COLT’S PATENT” over a tiny “U.S.” and there are tiny “P” inspector marks on numerous individual parts. It has a square back brass trigger guard and a Walker sized brass back strap with an oil finished 1-pc walnut grip of Walker dimensions with legible “WAT” (William A. Thornton) cartouche on right side and “NWP” (Nahum W. Patch) cartouche on left side. The trigger guard is a reworked Walker item with square juncture at the frame. Cylinder is dragoon sized with six chambers and a single, intact safety pin. Cylinder is rolled with the Ranger/Indian fight scene with an outstanding pressure ridge and oval cylinder stops. Side of cylinder has the usual “MODEL U.S.M.R. / COLT’S PATENT” markings on the side with the serial number and “P” proof in the bracket. Serial numbers on all parts are very tiny Walker style and are found on bbl lug, rammer handle, wedge, frame, trigger guard, butt strap, cylinder and cylinder pin. The serial number was not observed in the back strap channel of the grip, however it is readily apparent that this grip has been with this revolver its entire life. This revolver is pictured on p. 46 of the book The Wm M. Locke Collection. Accompanied by a 5-page letter from noted author & historian, R.L. Wilson, detailing much of the above information. Also accompanied by a fine custom made Plexiglas & walnut stand. The so-called “Fluck” variation dragoon revolver was first definitively reported in an article in the Sept. 1956 American Rifleman magazine entitled “Colt’s Hartford-Walker” by John J. Fluck. Information available to Mr. Fluck at that time indicated that there were 300 of these revolvers made by Colt as replacements for Walker revolvers which had failed during testing & field use. An article entitled “Debunking the Fluck Myth” by Dick Salzer, Paul Sorrell & C. Kenneth Moore that appeared in the May 2004 Gun Report magazine, as the title suggests, disproves Mr. Fluck’s research, citing more modern research which discloses that the “Dragoon” revolvers in the serial range 2,000-3,000 were actually a second government contract and were actually produced prior to the lower numbered civilian Dragoons which were numbered in the 1,340-2,000 serial range. According to this article, and as everyone familiar with Colt firearms is aware, Samuel Colt was a very frugal individual and rarely allowed anything to be scrapped. Therefore it is extremely logical to understand that these “new” revolvers were assembled from leftover & reworked parts from the Walker production combined with other new made parts. PROVENANCE: Judge Winter Collection; William M. Locke Collection; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching except grip as noted. This is probably the finest 2nd contract Colt Dragoon extant. Bbl retains 40-50% thin original blue with balance flaked to a medium patina. Rammer handle & pivot retain dark case colors. Frame retains about all of its orig case colors, mostly faded, brighter in sheltered areas. Trigger guard & back strap are a medium mustard patina. Grip is sound showing moderate wear and retains a smooth hand worn patina with a few minor nicks & scratches. Cylinder is a beautiful metal patina, still in the white, never blued, with its extraordinary pressure ridge and retains 96-98% Ranger/Indian fight scene and crisp safety pin. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Stand is extremely fine. 4-36405 JR92 (30,000-60,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2005	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE COLT WHITNEYVILLE HARTFORD 2ND CONTRACT DRAGOON REVOLVER. SN 2464. Cal. 44. Rare 2nd contract revolver, often referred to as the “Fluck” Model, with 7-1/2″ oct to rnd reworked Walker bbl that has German silver front sight and address that reads from cylinder to muzzle and has Dragoon 1st Model style verticle latch on rammer lever. Left side of frame has “COLT’S PATENT” over a tiny “U.S.” and there are tiny “P” inspector marks on numerous individual parts. It has a square back brass trigger guard and a Walker sized brass back strap with an oil finished 1-pc walnut grip of Walker dimensions with legible “WAT” (William A. Thornton) cartouche on right side and “NWP” (Nahum W. Patch) cartouche on left side. The trigger guard is a reworked Walker item with square juncture at the frame. Cylinder is dragoon sized with six chambers and a single, intact safety pin. Cylinder is rolled with the Ranger/Indian fight scene with an outstanding pressure ridge and oval cylinder stops. Side of cylinder has the usual “MODEL U.S.M.R. / COLT’S PATENT” markings on the side with the serial number and “P” proof in the bracket. Serial numbers on all parts are very tiny Walker style and are found on bbl lug, rammer handle, wedge, frame, trigger guard, butt strap, cylinder and cylinder pin. The serial number was not observed in the back strap channel of the grip, however it is readily apparent that this grip has been with this revolver its entire life. This revolver is pictured on p. 46 of the book The Wm M. Locke Collection. Accompanied by a 5-page letter from noted author & historian, R.L. Wilson, detailing much of the above information. Also accompanied by a fine custom made Plexiglas & walnut stand. The so-called “Fluck” variation dragoon revolver was first definitively reported in an article in the Sept. 1956 American Rifleman magazine entitled “Colt’s Hartford-Walker” by John J. Fluck. Information available to Mr. Fluck at that time indicated that there were 300 of these revolvers made by Colt as replacements for Walker revolvers which had failed during testing & field use. An article entitled “Debunking the Fluck Myth” by Dick Salzer, Paul Sorrell & C. Kenneth Moore that appeared in the May 2004 Gun Report magazine, as the title suggests, disproves Mr. Fluck’s research, citing more modern research which discloses that the “Dragoon” revolvers in the serial range 2,000-3,000 were actually a second government contract and were actually produced prior to the lower numbered civilian Dragoons which were numbered in the 1,340-2,000 serial range. According to this article, and as everyone familiar with Colt firearms is aware, Samuel Colt was a very frugal individual and rarely allowed anything to be scrapped. Therefore it is extremely logical to understand that these “new” revolvers were assembled from leftover & reworked parts from the Walker production combined with other new made parts. PROVENANCE: Judge Winter Collection; William M. Locke Collection; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching except grip as noted. This is probably the finest 2nd contract Colt Dragoon extant. Bbl retains 40-50% thin original blue with balance flaked to a medium patina. Rammer handle & pivot retain dark case colors. Frame retains about all of its orig case colors, mostly faded, brighter in sheltered areas. Trigger guard & back strap are a medium mustard patina. Grip is sound showing moderate wear and retains a smooth hand worn patina with a few minor nicks & scratches. Cylinder is a beautiful metal patina, still in the white, never blued, with its extraordinary pressure ridge and retains 96-98% Ranger/Indian fight scene and crisp safety pin. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Stand is extremely fine. 4-36405 JR92 (30,000-60,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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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