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LOT 3260
Rare Colt Whitneyville/Hartford “Transition Dragoon” Percussion Revolver
- Serial no. 1250, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish,
walnut grips. This is a solid representative example of an extremely rare Colt, known
as the “Transition Dragoon” or “Transition Walker”, of which only approximately 240
were manufactured in late 1847. The Transition Dragoons were serial numbered in
the subsequent sequence to the civilian Colt Walker Model revolvers and utilized
some leftover parts from the predecessor model. This second variation Transition
Dragoon, serial number 1250, features a straightback frame type, differing from
the first variation Transition Dragoons with a curved cut-out portion at the rear of
the frame similar to the Walkers before, which can be seen on a Transition Dragoon
with serial number 1144 previously sold by Rock Island Auction Company (reference
auction 78, lot 3103). Features on this revolver that distinguish Transitional Dragoon
revolvers from later Dragoon revolvers include the areas behind the trigger guard
that slant back into the grips, a short trigger, slender “Slim
Jim” grip, and Colt Walker style tiny font serial numbers.
The top barrel flat is
marked with the one-line “ADDRESS. SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY” address, with a
partly visible “COLT’S/PATENT/U.S.” marked on the left side of the frame. The barrel
has a nickel-silver front sight blade. Full and partial matching serial number “1250” is
stamped in tiny numerals on the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, butt, cylinder, and
cylinder arbor pin, and an unnumbered replacement wedge and loading lever.
CONDITION: Very good, with gray and brown patina, scattered light oxidation and
pitting, bright golden appearance on the brass with a replacement reinforced small
circular area around the front trigger guard screw and strong traces of original silver
finish visible in the protected areas of the grip straps. Cylinder is a renumbered to
match replacement. Frame is refinished, most notably on the left side with pitting
visible under the artificially applied brown finish. Left side of rear barrel lug exhibits
refinished area over repair. Grip is good as sanded and re-oiled, with scattered
dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. As the rarest of all the early Colt revolver
production models, this Colt Whitneyville/Hartford “Transition Dragoon” revolver
would make a fine addition to any advanced Colt firearms collection.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
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