GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
SCARCE COLT 2ND MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. COLT DRAGOON 9980 44 Cal. 44. Blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2" oct to rnd bbl, German silver front sight and 1-line NYC address. Rammer is early type with vertical latch. Cylinder is unfluted with Dragoon/Indian fight scene roll marking and "MODEL U.S.M.R. / COLT'S PATENT" cartouches surrounding the SN. The 2nd Model Dragoon is the lowest production of all 3 models with only about 2,700 produced 1850-1851. The left front side of frame is marked "COLT'S PATENT" over a tiny "U.S.". The square back brass trigger guard & backstrap contain a 1-pc walnut grip with matching SN in the backstrap channel. Left side of grip has a clear "JH" inspector cartouche and the right side a clear "W.A.T." (William A. Thornton) sub-inspector cartouche. Wedge is numbered "9991". Hammer spring is of the straight type with roller in the hammer. The contract with the government for 1,000 Dragoon revolvers was placed in Feb. 1850 with part of that contract filled from 2nd model production. Mr. Colt believing that additional contracts were forthcoming had many of the frames coming off the production line stamped with the "U.S." on the left side. Only those revolvers with additional small inspector initials can be considered martial arms as the majority of the 2nd model production was sold on the civilian market. This revolver with its matching inspected grip and various inspector initials on individual parts most certainly was a martial arm. A large number of these arms were issued out of the San Antonio arsenal to Cavalry units and Mounted Infantry to combat the Comanche Indians, outlaws & bandits throughout the Southwest. At the outset of the Civil War, all arms at the San Antonio arenas and with troops assigned there were surrendered to the Confederacy when they continued in service throughout the war. Those arms generally saw extreme hard service afterward on the frontier and are rarely found today with high orig finish. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching except wedge as noted. Bbl retains a smooth, thinning blue finish with some evidence of modern or contemporary finish added and blended to appear original. Light pitting around the front sight. Rammer pivot retains about 40% faded case colors and the frame fading, dark mottled case colors, turned brown on the recoil shields. Hammer retains dark case colors on the left side and rear edge, turned gray on top & right edges. Cylinder is a thin blue/brown patina with scattered spots of fine pitting and shows about 90% strong Dragoon/Indian fight scene roll marking. Grip frame is a smooth light mustard patina. Grip is battered on bottom edges, but is sound with clear cartouches and retains a hand worn patina. Mechanics are fine, very bright shiny bore. Shows very little use with no visible pitting on the hammer nose or nipple recesses. A very fine example with a slight restoration. 52689-1 JRL (8,000-12,000)