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LOT 1171
Scarce U.S. Colt “Fluck/
Walker Replacement” First Model Dragoon Percussion
Revolver - Serial no. 2505, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut grips. This is one of the first 1,000 Colt Dragoon revolvers manufactured c.
November 1847-1848 to fulfill Colt’s second U.S. government contract (after the 1,000 gun Walker contract), found in the 2001-
3000 serial range with serial numbered components marked with the smaller “Walker” sized numerals. This variation was first researched and
nicknamed the “Walker Replacement Dragoons” when identified by researcher John J. Fluck in 1956, also known as “Fluck Dragoons” by collectors, in
which he believed these were made to replace the Walker revolvers that had failed in service and indicated they were made using original Walker
parts and reworked parts. This exact revolver was depicted in the John J. Fluck’s article in the September 1956 issue of The American Rifleman. More
recent research has changed our understanding of this model and shown that they were not replacements for broken Walkers or made from recycled or repaired Walker
components as Fluck had theorized. In “Debunking the Fluck Myth: Colt Legends Die Hard” by Salzer for the American Society of Arms Collectors in Bulletin #95 from Spring 2007 the author
states, “The obvious conclusion is that Colt, for reasons of completeness perhaps, chose to number the guns made for the second government contract in a closed, out-of-sequence series, beginning with
2001 and continuing to 3000. That left him with a gap in his civilian production between 1340 and 2000 which he subsequently filled with later production guns. These are among the rarest of the roughly
19,000 Colt Dragoon revolvers. These revolvers were issued primarily to the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen commanded by General Persifor Smith who served on the armistice commission that ended
hostilities with Mexico and was appointed military governor of Mexico City. Later, as commanding general at Vera Cruz, he oversaw the evacuation of the last United States forces from Mexico. After the
war, Smith became the first commander of the Pacific Division, and, subsequently, from 1850 to 1856 commanded the Department of Texas. Many of these revolvers saw service in the west prior to the
Civil War. During the Civil War, these revolvers were likely re-issued to various units. The “P” inspection markings on the revolver’s various components are attributed to inspector Nahum W. Patch, who also inspected
Colt Walker revolvers. The revolver features a German silver blade front sight, “ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY” double stamped (factory error) on top of the breech of the barrel reading towards the muzzle, the Ranger and
Indian fight scene on the cylinder along with “MODEL U.S.M.R.” and “COLT’S PATENT”, oval cylinder stops, a single safety pin, “COLTS/PATENT/U.S.” on the left side of the frame, squareback brass trigger guard, brass back strap, and
walnut grip. “P” inspection marks are visible on the left of the breech, bottom of the trigger guard, and on the back strap. Faint but legible “NWP” and “WAT” oval inspection cartouches are stamped on the left and right sides of the
grip. Matching visible serial numbers stamped on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt, cylinder and cylinder pin, with unnumbered replacement wedge and loading lever assembly.
CONDITION: Good with smooth gray patina on the iron surfaces, scattered patches of moderate pitting, and mostly visible markings. Brass displays bright as lightly cleaned. Replacement loading lever assembly and wedge. Grip is
also good as sanded and re-oiled, with general overall wear, a few light scratches and dings, and legible cartouches. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The John Fluck Collection; Chris Anderson; The Marty Lane Collection; The Steven Kujawsk Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 1172
U.S. Inspected Colt Third
Model Dragoon Percussion
Revolver with Desirable U.S. Dragoons Marked Cylinder - Serial no.
18241, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Colt’s Third Model
Dragoon revolvers were manufactured between 1851 to 1861 and were the last of Colt’s massive “horse
pistols” descended from the famous Colt Walker. The Third Model Dragoon can be quickly distinguished by its round trigger
guard and rectangular cylinder stops. The Dragoons were used by the 1st and 2nd Dragoons and U.S. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen
in the West in the antebellum era and also saw extensive use during the Civil War by both sides. This Third Model Dragoon was manufactured in
1859 under contract with the U.S. government and features oval script inspection cartouches “ADK” (Andrew D. King) stamped on the left and
“WAT” (William A. Thornton) on the right, single letter inspection stamps on various components, and the Indian fight scene with the desirable “U.S.
DRAGOONS” marking (faintly legible) on the cylinder. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight with the one-line New York address. The left of the frame is marked “COLTS/
PATENT/U.S.” in three lines. Matching full and partial serial numbers visible on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, cylinder pin, cylinder, loading lever, butt, and what appears to be the faintly
legible matching number handwritten in black ink inside the grip mortise, with non-matching number “8286” on the wedge.
CONDITION: Very good with a bright appearance on the crisp iron, scattered patches of light pitting, and a mostly clear cylinder scene. Grip is very fine with some scattered light scratches, a few dents,
and well defined cartouches. Mechanically fine. This is a solid representative example of a U.S. contract Colt Third Model Dragoon revolver that likely saw use by mounted troops during the Civil War and
subsequent use out west!
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
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