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LOT 3370
Desirable U.S. Marked Colt
Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 16346, 44
cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. The Third
Model Dragoon revolvers are one of the iconic firearms of the Old West and were the last of the large .44
caliber Colt “revolving holster pistols” that began with the famous Colt Walker in 1847. This revolver was manufactured in 1857 under
contract with the U.S. government. Most of these revolvers saw hard use on the frontier with the 1st and 2nd Dragoons and U.S. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen during the plethora of conflicts with Native Americans in the antebellum West and were subsequently used by both sides during
the Civil War. The revolver has the round brass trigger guard and rectangular cylinder stops found on Third Model Dragoons. The top flat of the barrel
is marked “ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY-” and has a German silver blade front sight. The left side of the frame is marked “COLT’S/PATENT/U.S.”
The cylinder has the classic roll scene depicting a running battle between the Texas Rangers and the Comanche and the “MODEL U.S.M.R.” and “COLT’S PATENT” markings. Matching
serial numbers are found on the loading lever, cylinder, cylinder pin, wedge, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The grip has a faint oval script “ADK” inspection cartouche stamped on the left and a faint “RHKW” cartouche on the right, and small inspection marks are found on various parts. An “X” is carved on the bottom of the trigger guard.
CONDITION: Very good with gray and brown patina overall, spotting, scattered patches of light pitting. The cylinder scene is light but is mostly legible, and the cylinder retains all of its six safety pins. The brass exhibits an attractive bright golden patina with numerous dings on the butt. The grip is also very good, with numerous dings on the bottom flats, scattered light scratches and handling marks, a
few small chips, and lightly visible cartouches. Mechanically excellent. This attractive example of a desirable U.S. marked Colt Third Model Dragoon revolver would make a fine addition to any U.S. martial firearms collection!
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 3371
Scarce Documented Civil War Fluted Cylinder Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver Included as Part of a
Shipment to Governor William Dennison of Ohio with Factory Letter - Serial no. 2144, 44 cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. The factory letter indicates
that this revolver was one of a group of 300 shipped to Governor William Dennison in Columbus,
Ohio, on June 14, 1861, and confirms the configuration. This early Colt Model 1860 Army has the highly desirable early full fluted cylinder. While over 200,000 Colt Model 1860 Army Model revolvers were manufactured, only around 4,000 were manufactured with fluted cylinders, making
this variation especially desirable. Some of these distinctive Colts were even shipped to the South before and at the very beginning of the Civil War. Of the small amount of these fluted cylinder revolvers made, most of them were no doubt heavily used during the war, making surviving examples particularly scarce. Given that another 100 gun shipment of fluted 1860 Army revolvers was also shipped to Governor Dennison the same day as the
shipment of this revolver, a large fraction of these fluted 1860 Army variants appear to have gone to Ohio. William Dennison Jr. was the 24th Governor of Ohio from January 1860 to January 1862. As governor, he was famously enthusiastic about the call to arms at the onset of the Civil War. He mobilized over 100,000
troops and used them to secure Ohio’s railroads and telegraph lines and also sent troops under George McClellan into western Virginia without federal permission to protect the First Wheeling Convention. The convention ultimately led to the formation of the new free state of West Virginia. Lincoln appointed him Post Master General in 1864. He also served as the head of the Republican National Convention that year. Ohio was a crucial state for the Union War effort thanks to its central location, large population, waterways, and railways. These revolvers were very likely issued to the Ohio cavalry. This example features the one-line Hartford barrel address, “COLTS/PATENT” frame marking, frame cut for a shoulder stock with corresponding slot in the butt, fluted cylinder with the 1850 patent date marking, and matching serial number “2144” marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, cylinder, wedge, cylinder pin and handwritten in black ink inside the grip mortise.
CONDITION: Very good, exhibiting a mix of smooth brown and gray patina overall with a vivid trace of case coloring on the right behind the recoil shield. Patterns of case colors visible on the frame, loading lever and hammer with smooth gray and brown patinas on the balance. The front strap/trigger guard retains 70% of the silver plating with some areas of tarnishing and a golden bright patina on the exposed brass. The grip is also very good with numerous dents and scratches, moderate edge wear and a chipped area on the left edge. Mechanically excellent. This Ohio shipped fluted cylinder Colt 1860 Army revolver would make a fine addition to any Civil War collection.
According to "The Book of Colt Firearms", approximately 4,000 Colt 1860 Army revolvers were produced with a fluted cylinder.
212 Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
Gov. William Dennison