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The Colt Model 1848 Dragoon Repeating Pistol.

The Colt M1848 aka Dragoon series of revolvers were a direct result of the lessons learned from the manufacture and field use of the M-1847 “Walker” percussion revolvers. Eli Whitney had produced the Walker revolvers, as Colt had previously gone out of business and did not have manufacturing facilities when the order was received. Due to both manufacturing and design defects, of the 280 Walker revolvers delivered for service to Colonel Hay’s Texas Rangers, 89 (31%) were destroyed in service and only 82 (29%) were still in usable condition after 8 months of service! The Dragoon series of revolvers included several improvements from the earlier Walker pattern guns. Some of these improvements included the use of English low carbon steel for the cylinders to improve their strength, as well as reducing the cylinder length to reduce the powder charge. These two improvements were implemented to reduce the chance for catastrophic cylinder failure, a significant problem with the Walker revolvers in the field. Other improvements included the reduction of the barrel length from 9” to 7 1/2“and the addition of a catch under the barrel to secure the loading lever when it was not in use. By reducing the cylinder and barrel length, the weight of the massive Walker was reduced from 4 pounds, 9 ounces to 4 pounds 2 ounces, which made it somewhat more manageable. Production of the Dragoon series commenced in Colt’s Hartford factory in late 1847 with their “transitional” M-1848 Army revolvers the scarce “Whitneyville Harford Dragoons”, which were really the predecessors to what would be the 1st Model Dragoon. Only a handful of these guns were produced before the 1st Model Dragoons entered production. About 7,000 1st Models were produced between 1848 and 1850. The 2nd Model Dragoons were produced between 1850-1851, with about 2,700 manufactured. The primary improvements found on the 2nd Model is the adoption of rectangular, instead of oval, cylinder stop slots and the addition of a roller on the bottom of the hammer to smooth the action. The 3rd Model Dragoon went into production in 1851 and remained in production through about 1861 roughly 10,500 being produced. The most noticeable difference from the 2nd Model to the 3rd Model Dragoon is the adoption of the rounded triggerguard, bringing the use of the “square back” triggerguard to an end in the Dragoon series. All the Dragoon revolvers were 6-shot, single action percussion pistols in .44 the so-called Army caliber. All had octagon to round barrels, and nearly all of these were 7 1/2“in length, with a handful of 3rd Model dragoons being produced with 8” barrels. They all had brass backstraps and triggerguards, color case hardened frames, hammers and loading levers and blued barrels. Nearly 20,000 Colt Dragoon revolvers of all patterns were produced during their production run, with roughly half being delivered to the U.S. government on military contracts. The Dragoon pattern revolvers saw significant use with both the U.S. Dragoons and the U.S. Mounted Rifles (U.S.M.R.), and until some Colt M1851 Navy revolvers were ordered in 1855, the Dragoon remained the only revolver in significant numbers to be in use with the U.S. military. The Dragoon revolvers saw heavy use during their service, but their weight made them unwieldy and difficult to carry in any fashion other than with pommel holsters on a saddle. With the successful testing and issue of M1851 Navy revolvers, they were roughly half the weight of the Dragoons, it was clear that the days of the massive 4lb handgun days were numbered. When Colt debuted the M1860 Army revolver, in the same caliber and again at about half the weight of the Dragoon, the pistol was officially obsolete. However, Dragoon revolvers continued to see service with the Federal army through the first part of the Civil War, but were no doubt quickly abandoned as soon as lighter and more modern Colt or Remington revolvers became available. Many Dragoon revolvers found their way into state armories during the pre-war years, and some wonderful early war images survive of young Confederate cavalrymen posing with their massive 4lb Colt revolvers.

Colt Model 1848 First Model Dragoon military issued.

Highly desirable Colt First Model Dragoon percussion revolver with a 7 ½ inch part round barrel in caliber .44. Only 7000 First Model Dragoons were manufactured between 1848 and 1850, and they are important as one of the massive “horse pistols” manufactured by Colt following the famous Colt Walker revolvers of 1847. This revolver dates to 1848 (first year of production) and like the other Dragoon models, they were used in the antebellum era on the frontier and saw considerable use during the American Civil War (1861-1865). This Dragoon was one of the 1000 Pistols in the Third U.S. Government contract for the Second Regiment of Dragoons. The contract was dated 8 January 1849, and the pistols were delivered to the New York Ordnance Depot on Fiscal Year 1850 (from 1 July 1849 to 30 June 1850). The serial numbers were between 3660 and 5275. Inspector initials on the metal, “U.S”. on the frame and “U.S. DRAGOONS “on the cylinders. Acceptance cartouches may not be visible on the grip. These were the first pistols to be stamped “U.S. “DRAGOONS” on the cylinders. Only 815 pistols in the Third contract were issued in Fiscal Year 1850, which indicates the Second Dragoon Regimental strength during the year. The FY 1850 unissued quantity was 185 pistols. As such, they are very difficult to find in high condition since many spent years riding in pommel holsters out West and /or on battlefields of the Civil War. The barrel has a German Silver blade front sight and “{ADDRESS SAM^L COLT NEW･YORK CITY}” reading from the breech towards the muzzle (left hand address). The cylinders show almost the complete “Texas Rangers and Comanches Fight Scene”, only the “U.S. DRAGOONS” marking in the upper scroll-edged panel, above the serial number, is worn off, “COLT’S PATENT” on the lower scroll-edged panel is perfect visible, also Ormsby’s signature “W.L. Ormsby Sc. N.Y.” is still there. The cylinder has the correct oval stop slots; the safety pin is worn off. Left side of the frame is stamped with “COLT’S PATENT U.S.”, there is an inspector letter “T” (William Tuller) stamped at the top of the right side of the brass trigger-guard close to the grip and “M” inside the recoil shield, serial numbers and inspector markings are stamped in tiny numerals and letters. All matching serial numbers 3995 on loading lever, barrel, frame, trigger-guard, backstrap, cylinder, arbor pin and inside grip channel, the wedge is a correct period replacement and is numbered 83. This revolver as the correct vertical loading lever latch and V-shaped mainspring. The walnut grip is in excellent condition, no chips missing and no cracks, the Inspector Cartouches are not there which is correct for Dragoons in this serial number range.  Backstrap and trigger-guard contain some silver plating, frame and loading lever has some minor case colors visible, rest of metal parts are having an equal dark grey, brown patina, screws are fine with nice sharp slots. The barrel has strong lands and grooves with some pitting. Tight action and mechanically fine. This is a very solid example of the historic Colt First Model Dragoon revolvers in very good condition.

Colt Model 1848 First Model Dragoon military issued with Ordnance Acceptance Cartouches on the grip.

Highly desirable Colt First Model Dragoon percussion revolver with a 7 ½ inch part round barrel in caliber .44. Only 7000 First Model Dragoons were manufactured between 1848 and 1850, and they are important as one of the massive “horse pistols” manufactured by Colt following the famous Colt Walker revolvers of 1847. This revolver dates to 1849 (second year of production) and like the other Dragoon models, they were used in the antebellum era on the frontier and saw considerable use during the American Civil War (1861-1865). This Dragoon was one of the 1000 Pistols in the Fourth U.S. Government contract for the First Regiment of Dragoons. The contract was dated 4 February 1850, and the pistols were delivered to the New York Ordnance Depot on Fiscal Year 1851 (from 1 July 1850 to 30 June 1851). The serial numbers were between 5276 and 6715. They can be identified by “U.S.” on the frame and inspector initials on other parts, and possibly by grip cartouches. The cylinders were also stamped “U.S. DRAGOONS “on the cylinders. Only 988 pistols were delivered to the New York Ordnance Depot in FY 1851 which left 12 pistols unaccounted for. Only 529 of the Fourth contract pistols were issued to the First Regiment of Dragoons in FY 1851, which indicates strength of the Regiment during the fiscal year. strength during the year. A total of 320 pistols were issued to the Militia in FY 1851. The Militia Units are unknown, and it was unusual for State Militia Units to stamp or mark weapons, which was not authorized by the Ordnance Department. The FY 1851 unissued quantity was 139 pistols. As such, they are very difficult to find in high condition since many spent years riding in pommel holsters out West and /or on battlefields of the Civil War. The barrel has a German Silver blade front sight and “{ADDRESS SAM^L COLT NEW･YORKCITY}” reading from the breech towards the muzzle (left hand address). The cylinders show almost the complete “Texas Rangers and Comanches Fight Scene” and has the “U.S. DRAGOONS” marking in the upper scroll-edged panel, above the serial number, and “COLT’S PATENT” on the lower scroll-edged panel, also Ormsby’s signature “W.L. Ormsby Sc. N.Y.” is still there. The cylinder has the correct oval stop slots; the safety pin is still there. Left side of the frame is stamped with “COLT’S PATENT U.S.”, there are several inspector initials stamped at top of barrel and cylinder “K”, back of cylinder shoulder “T”, “A” in front of triggerguard and “N” bottom triggerguard and top of backstrap.
Slightly visible correct Inspector cartouches on left and right side of the grip:
Left side: “S.K.” for Samuel Knous.
Right side: “W.A.T.” for William A. Thornton.
All matching serial numbers 6163 on barrel, frame, trigger-guard, backstrap, cylinder and inside grip channel. Loading lever and arbor pin are marked 163, the wedge is numbered 136 with the 3 reversed which is a factory error. This revolver as the correct vertical loading lever latch and V-shaped mainspring. The walnut grip is in excellent condition, no chips missing and no cracks, the Inspector cartouches are slightly visible. Backstrap and trigger-guard have a nice dark yellow patina, frame and loading lever has some minor case colors visible, rest of metal parts are having an equal dark grey patina, screws are very good with good slots. The barrel has strong lands and grooves with some minor pitting. Tight action and mechanically fine. This is a very solid example of the historic Colt First Model Dragoon revolvers in very good condition.