GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT 3RD MODEL DRAGOON REVOLVER.COLTDRAGOON1480544Cal. 44. 7-1/2" bbl, blue and case colored finish with 1-pc burl walnut grip. Bbl shows sgl line hyphenated New York Colt address on top of lug. SN appears on bbl lug, frame, trigger guard, backstrap and cyl. SN is written in ink in backstrap channel of grip. Last 4-digits of SN found on lever, arbor and wedge. All numbers match. Colt's patent mark on left side of frame. Revolver was engraved by Thomas J. Barlow in a cloud scroll motif. Examples of Barlow's work are illustrated on pg 18&19 of Colt Factory Engravers of the Nineteenth Century by Herbert G. Houze. Bbl is engraved on lug and around muzzle. Loading lever is engraved on flat. SN also has a cloud decoration. Frame is scroll engraved overall with scalloped borders and checkerboard accents. Trigger guard has scallop border accent. Trigger guard bow shows an American shield bordered by scroll. Backstrap has scroll engraving on apron and heel, butt has full coverage scroll engraving. Hammer shows scroll engraving with a wolf head motif. Cyl is rolled with scene of Dragoons fighting Indians on horseback. Bbl has gain twist rifling. Approximately one dozen of these cloud scroll engraved Dragoons are known to collectors. This particular gun was formerly in the Frank Singer Collection. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl shows smooth grey/brown patina overall. Engraving is clear. Markings are sharp. Bore is dark with visible rifling. Frame also is a smooth grey/brown patina. Engraving is clear. Markings are sharp. Trigger guard and backstrap show a deep mustard patina with traces of silver plate in protected areas. Hammer is darker grey patina with sharp engraving and some slight erosion. Arbor is tight. Cyl shows 20-30% of scene overall with a clear sharp SN. Six safety pins are intact. Chambers are clean. Grip is very good and shows an old repair with most of re-varnished finished. Mechanics are fine. This is a fine example of an early Colt Dragoon revolver made in 1854 and engraved by Thomas Barlow who only worked for Colt for 3 years in this unique style. 53044-2 TEP (10,000-17,500)