GUN FALL 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
RARE MASSACHUSETTS SURCHARGED MARTIAL COLT 2ND MODEL DRAGOON PERCUSSION REVOLVER. COLT 2ND DRAGOON 10557 44 Cal. 44. Rare 2nd Model Dragoon made in 1851, standard configuration blue and color case hardened with 7-1/2″ oct-rnd bbl, nickel silver front sight and 1-line New York address. Trigger guard behind SN is stamped "MS" for Massachusetts. Left side of frame has a tiny "COLT'S PATENT" over a tiny "U.S." The square back brass trigger guard & backstrap contain an oil finished 1-pc walnut grip with clear, faint inspector cartouches with an "X" stamped on left side grip which is also noted on at least two other Massachusetts surcharged Dragoons Julia's has offered. Almost every part on the revolver has tiny inspector initials. Cylinder has the Ormsby Dragoon-Indian fight scene roll marking and "MODEL U.S.M.R." and "COLT'S PATENT" cartouches surrounding the SN. There were only about 1,000 of these guns produced under government contract, 1850-1851. The 2nd Model Dragoon was the lowest production of all the Dragoon models and of that limited production, only a few hundred were issued to the Massachusetts militia. There is currently in Smithsonian SN 10603 which was one of a pair carried by Ben Butler when he was in the Massachusetts Militia; later Civil War general and governor of Massachusetts. This is a fine, tight, complete, well functioning example with especially nice cylinder scene and crisp markings. PROVENANCE: Collection of Robert Roughton. CONDITION: Very good to fine overall, fairly sharp crisp gun with traces of finish in protected areas. Gun appears all matching, though not disassembled as gun is tight and all external SN and inspectors match. Cylinder scene is almost totally discernible with matching grey/brown color found on rest of iron on gun, scattered staining and pitting. Markings all crisp and well defined. There are several dings and cuts on right side of bbl housing around wedge slot. Grips are well fit with discernible "WAT" (William A. Thornton) and "JCB" (Joseph C. Bragg) cartouches, crack repair on right grip near frame and hairline on opposite side. Action is crisp with well defined rifling and bright shiny bore. 52328-10 JS (12,000-15,000)