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LOT 1179
Finest Known Documented Cased 8 Inch Barrel Colt Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver with Factory Letter Shipped to J.C. Grubb & Co. in April of 1861 at the Start of the Civil War - Serial no. 19462, 44 cal., 8 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This incredibly high condition Colt Third Model Dragoon shipped in April 1861 during a very pivotal time in American history and also in the history of Colt firearms as it comes from near the tail end of production of Samuel Colt’s massive “holster pistols.” These pistols trace their lineage back to the 9 inch barreled Colt“Texas Paterson”revolvers used by the Republic of Texas Navy and the Texas Rangers in the 1840s and the Colt Model 1847 Walker revolvers of the Mexican-American War. The Dragoon revolvers were manufactured from 1848 to 1861, but their production was limited to approximately 7,000 First Models, 2,700 Second Models, and 10,500 Third Models. In addition to its elite level of condition, this particular revolver
is one of the few known Dragoon revolvers in the 18000 and 19800 serial number range with an 8 inch barrel rather than the usual 7 1/2 inch.
Given their fairly heavy weight of over 4 pounds, the various Dragoon revolvers were better suited for men on horseback who could carry them in pommel holsters, and many of those produced saw extensive use in the Old West. Clearly that was not the case with this extraordinary benchmark example which remains extremely close to the way it looked when it left the factory over 160 years ago! While the Dragoon revolvers had proven their utility in the hands of the U.S. Dragoons and U.S. Mounted Rifles in the West in the antebellum era, Colt’s lighter models had proven more popular with the civilian market, and improvements in steel and design allowed Colt to release the lighter and more streamlined Model 1860 Army. However, with a limited number of Colt’s new Model 1860 Army revolvers
This extraordinary revolver features the “military” blue finish on the barrel and cylinder, bright nitre blued screws and trigger, vibrant case colors on the loading lever, frame, and hammer; and a varnished walnut grip. The scarce 8 inch barrel has a German silver blade front sight and the one-line “-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY” legend with weak As and a break in the N, and a small “S” is marked on the left side of the lug. The trigger guard has another “S” and a “G” on the left. The cylinder has the iconic Texas Rangers and Comanche running battle scene along with “MODEL U.S.M.R.,”“COLT’S PATENT,”and“W.L. ORMSBY Sc N.Y.”The frame has a
small “COLTS/PATENT” marking on the left. Matching partial or full serial numbers are visible on the cylinder, loading lever, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The scarce rosewood case is specifically fitted for the rare 8 inch Dragoon and has a diamond shaped top plaque and key escutcheon, rose colored velvet interior, 500 ct. W. & C. Eley cap tin marked for “CAPS,/ Made expressly for/COLT’S PT./Repeating Holster/PISTOLS”, lead balls, 3rd model brass and iron mold with “W.A.T.” inspection mark on the side, case key, blued L-shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver, two H.W. Mason cartridge packs, and an exceptional Colt’s patent army sized flask with sloped charger.
The included factory letter confirms this revolver’s original configuration, including the 8 inch barrel, and indicates it was in a shipment of 24 guns of this type shipped to J.C. Grubb & Co. in Philadelphia in April of 1861. Clearly Grubb continued to have demand for Dragoons as 73 engraved Hartford-English Dragoons were shipped to the company later that
year in September. The hardware and firearms merchant company was founded by Joseph C. Grubb (1813-1879) in 1839. The included original Sharps rifle orders and other information lists the company address as 712
beginning of the Civil War, he was one of the city’s leading businessmen and dealt in a wide variety of goods, including tobacco products from the South. The business was highly successful, selling $323,000 in goods in 1864, and after the Civil War continued to be “dealers in all kinds of firearms.” Grubb became wealthy, owning a home both in the city and a country residence named “Highfield,” and was also active in other various public and business affairs as a member of various business and civic organizations, including the Philadelphia Board of Trade, Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Bank, and the Union League.
The Philadelphia Inquirer in November of 1861 indicated that the Joint Select Committee of Councils on the Defense and Protection for the city had spent $125,427.63 that year so far, of which $45,073.28 was paid to
“J C Grubb & Co., for arms.” The company was paid more than any other and was followed distantly by H. Botler & Co. which received $15,729 for arms. These funds were expended to arm the home guards. Philadelphia’s councils had passed an ordinance on April 19, 1861, to organize home guard companies and then subsequently to organized them into regiments for service and thus had a great need for firearms, including Colt’s revolvers which were in high demand throughout the Civil War.
available and an established reputation, the Colt Dragoon revolvers were in high demand in both the North and the South as men from both sides went off to fight in the Civil War.
Market Street in Philadelphia. Grubb was a Quaker and very successful businessman in Philadelphia. He moved to the city around 1836 from Wilmington, Delaware. By the time this revolver was shipped by Colt at the