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LOT 189
Exceptional Cased Colt Baby Dragoon Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 13297, 31 cal., 4 inch octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. The Colt Baby Dragoon was the first pocket model revolver
manufactured at Colt’s Hartford factory. This revolver was manufactured in 1849 and features a five-shot
cylinder with rectangular cylinder stop slots and roll-engraved stagecoach holdup scene. The barrel
has no provision for a loading lever. Only about 13,350 of these rammerless Baby Dragoon revolvers
were manufactured per Jordan and Watt in “Colt’s Pocket ‘49 Including the Baby Dragoon & Wells Fargo”
on page 41. The barrel is roll-stamped “ADDRESS SAML COLT/NEW-YORK CITY”, and “COLTS/PATENT” is
stamped in small letters on the left side of the frame. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of
the barrel lug, frame, cylinder, trigger guard, and back strap. The partial serial number “297” is stamped
on the wedge and cylinder arbor pin. All of the visible serial numbers match. The revolver is contained
in a factory mahogany case with five compartments lined with red velvet. The case contains: an 1848
Pocket Model flask with embossed eagles on both sides, brass Model 1849 ball/bullet mold with “COLTS/
PATENT” stamped across the top of the blocks, early Eley Bros. cap tin for “COLT’S PT/Belt and Pocket/PISTOLS”, and blued L-shaped combination tool with sloping shoulders and square cut to nipple barrel.
CONDITION: Fine. The revolver retains 60% plus of the original blue with scattered small patches of finish loss or flaking on the barrel and the finish on the cylinder faded to a blue-gray patina, fine cylinder pins, light flash pitting on
the nipples, 50% of the dove-gray casehardened finish, 90% original silver plating, and crisp markings and cylinder scene. The grip is excellent and retains almost all of the varnished piano finish. Mechanically excellent. The case is
very good with only a few very minor cracks and minimal handling and storage wear. The flask is very good with sharp embossing and a small dent at the base. The bullet mold is very fine with an attractive patina, crisp markings,
and shallow dents on the face. The cap tin is good with all of the green paper label and most of the brown lacquer finish. The combination tool is fine with 50% of the original blue finish. High condition factory cased Baby Dragoon
revolvers like this example are scarce and very desirable.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500 191