GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXTREMELY RARE COLT WHITNEYVILLE-HARTFORD TRANSITIONAL-WALKER DRAGOON REVOLVER.WHITNEYVILLEWALKER115144Cal. 44. At the time of the Texas Gun Collectors Association 50th anniversary "Parade of Walkers", 2003, this example was one of the few Colt Whitneyville-Hartford Dragoons displayed and recognized with a certificate which accompanies, signed by well known Colt experts; Bobby Smith, Bobby Vance, Paul Sorrell and Michael Siemens. This new Dragoon which utilized the same tiny SNs used on civilian Walkers, SN 1001-1100 and continued to SN 1340. Known documented examples are 1104, 1136, 1151, 1195, 1214, 1215, 1216, 1226, 1269, 1293 and 1325. These transitional guns made just after civilian Walkers, late 1847-1848 would feature design improvements over the Walker Model, which to this day remains the largest and heaviest handgun ever produced by Colt. The Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon included many parts identical to Walker parts, making it a unique hybrid of old and new. This led to its later designation as the "Transition Walker." Indeed at least 1 of these Transitional-Walkers SN 1104 utilized Walker cyl still retaining its tiny Walker assembly number 551 (Julia Lot# 2004, Spring 2009) showing actual Walker parts were still used. Only 240 were produced before Colt moved on to his next design, the First Model Dragoon. Only 29 of the approximately 240 transitional Walkers made are known; percentage wise, actually rarer than military or civilian Walkers. With the exception of SN 1104 sold on these floors in 2009, there have been no other Whitneyville-Hartford Dragoons sold in auction in past 20 years we could find. The second government contract Dragoons which are SN 2001-3000 show up more frequently, quite often in poor condition showing hard use, same can be said for these earlier guns which were in high demand among Frontiersmen. As an important link between the Colt Walker and later revolvers, and the first model to come from Colt's own factory in Hartford, the Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon would go on to become one of the most revered and treasured firearms of all time. Of the 29 Whitneyville-Hartford's known most utilized Dragoon style frame and grips with a straight line interface, this is a rare opportunity to purchase the earliest of the Walker Transitions with Walker profile other than loading assembly. PROVENANCE: Norm Truesdell Collection; Displayed spring 2003 at the Texas Gun Collectors Association 50th Anniversary Parade of Walkers, Houston, Texas. CONDITION: Fair to good overall. Gun appears mostly original and complete from its time of use with exception of a few screws and possibly bbl latch. Bbl address and patent markings are not discernible but matching SNs 1151 are found on bbl, frame, trigger guard and backstrap. Metal is cleaned and gray overall with moderate to heavy pitting. Traces of silver plating are found on brass trigger guard. Trigger guard on SN 1151 is Walker style with short trigger and square back trigger bow with long angled shoulders. Rear edge of the frame is radiused for the corresponding Walker style grip which retains about 20% bright original factory varnish. Back strap is iron of Walker design, fitted with a 1-pc Walker grip with their heavily beveled bottom edges. Butt strap channel under the grip is chipped so assembly number not visible which should have probably matched the "10" found on the left side of front strap under grip. Small assembly number "14" found on bottom of bbl near well. Loading arm would have probably had a matching corresponding number on its flat when made. There is a well braised contemporary to gun's use on the frontier dovetailed repair utilizing lever arm with later Dragoon style latch. Mechanically gun functions well with well discerned rifling in pitted bore. 50176-1 JS (40,000-60,000)