GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
RARE COLT MODEL 1848 BABY DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. Colt BABY DRAGOON 8664 .31 Cal. 31. Blue and color case hardened with scarce 3" oct bbl, brass pin front sight and 2-line New York City right hand address with dashes. Left side of frame is center marked with a tiny "COLTS PATENT". Cyl is unfluted with 5-chambers and oval stop notches with Dragoon/Indian fight scene roll marking and single safety pin. The square-back brass trigger guard and backstrap contain a varnished 1-pc walnut grip with penciled matching SN in backstrap channel. Buttstrap is hand scratched "J D B". Accompanied by an early Paterson-style, fluted lid mahogany casing which is brown fabric lined and recessed in the bottom for the revolver, a double-sided, standing eagle "COLTS PATENT" flask, a brass bullet and ball "COLTS PATENT" mold without sprue cutter, an L-shaped nipple wrench and lacquered Eley''s cap tin with blue paper band. Bottom of the case has the handwritten name in pencil "W P A Strantham". This revolver has the cyl spindle without grease grooves which is cupped on the end to serve as a rammer and the right recoil shield has a capping groove. There were about 15000 of these small pocket revolvers produced 1847-1850 in a variety of bbl lengths and configurations, about 2000 of which, at the end of production were fitted with 1849-style rammers. These small revolvers were Colt''s first attempt at a small handgun after the demise of the Paterson line. They were instantly accepted by the buying public and most often were used on the American frontier and almost never found with an orig casing or accessories. They are rarely found with any orig finish. The front trigger guard screw and buttstrap screw are engraved. PROVENANCE: The Esteemed Collection of Steve Ardia. CONDITION: Fine, all matching including wedge, cyl and grip. Bbl retains about 70-75% scattered blue mixed with plummy patina. Frame retains traces of case colors being mostly a dark grey patina. Cyl retains thin blue/brown patina with some orig blue showing through and shows about 85% Dragoon/Indian fight scene roll marking and has prominent safety pin. Trigger guard and backstrap retain most of their orig silver finish. Grip is sound showing light edge wear and overall retains about 90% orig varnish. Mechanics are fine. Strong bore with some shine and fine pitting. Case has a couple of grain checks in the lid with a repaired crack in the lid behind the top front edge and a couple of grain checks in the bottom, otherwise is sound with nicks, scratches and dings and shows most of an old restored finish. Interior is possibly an old re-line from the period of use showing light fading and moderate to heavy soil with some staining from chemical around the revolver recess. Flask is very fine with the body retaining about 95-97% orig finish and the collar & spout about 80% orig gold wash. Mold shows some light battering on top and bottom edges otherwise is crisp and clean. Nipple wrench and cap tin are fine. 49631-1 JR13 (12,500-17,500)