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LOT 271
Outstanding, Rare, and Well-Documented Cased Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon Percussion Revolver, Featured in
“American Arms Collectors, Percussion Colts and Their Rivals, The Al Cali Collection” - Serial no. 3035, 31 cal., 5 inch octagon
bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This outstanding Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon revolver was manufactured in
1848, and is offered out of the prominent George S. Lewis Jr. collection. Samuel Colt’s “Baby Dragoon” was the beginning of his
new and most popular line of revolvers in the 19th century: the Hartford factory’s small frame “pocket” revolvers. Only approximately
15,000 Baby Dragoons were manufactured between 1847 and 1850 compared to approximately 350,000 Model 1849 Pocket
revolvers manufactured from 1850 to 1873, per “The Book of Colt Firearms” by Sutherland and Wilson. Many of these revolvers saw
heavy use on the western frontier, especially in the gold fields in California, as they were much easier to carry than Colt’s larger
revolvers, especially considering that the alternative to the Baby Dragoon was the massive Walker and the Dragoon revolvers.
This exact revolver is featured on pages 22 and 23 of the noteworthy book “American Arms Collectors, Percussion Colts and Their
Rivals, The Al Cali Collection” by R.L. Wilson, where it is shown with a different case, and noted as previously being out of the Robert
Allan collection. The 5 inch barrel has a fixed brass cone shaped front sight and the two-line “{ADDRESS SAML COLT/NEW-YORK
CITY}” address on top. The frame has the tiny “COLTS/PATENT” marking on the left. The cylinder has the oval cylinder stops, the
Texas Rangers and Comanche fight scene, “COLTS/PATENT” above the matching serial number and a single safety pin. The barrel
and cylinder have a high polish blue finish. The frame and hammer are color casehardened, and the distinctive squareback trigger
guard and grip straps have a silver plated finish. The one piece grip is highly figured walnut with a high polish varnish finish.
Matching visible serial numbers on the barrel, frame, cylinder, trigger guard, and butt. A “Q” is marked below the serial number on
the trigger guard. The case has a fitted blue felt lined interior holding the revolver, an Eley Bros cap tin, double sided eagle pocket
powder flask, early “COLTS/PATENT” marked .31 caliber two-cavity brass mold without sprue cutter, “L” shaped combination tool,
brass “mushroom” loading tool, one 5-count pack of combustible Colt Pocket cartridges, lead balls, and key.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% plus original blue finish on the barrel, 95% original blue finish on the cylinder, 95% muted
original casehardening on the frame and hammer, 95% original silver plated finish on the trigger guard and grip straps, with an
untouched slightly tarnished appearance, the original single cylinder safety pin intact, with an absolutely sharp cylinder scene.
Grip is excellent, retains nearly all of the original glossy piano varnish finish, with a spot of minor surface flaking at the upper
right, minimal handling evidence, tight fitment, and crisp edges. Mechanically excellent. Case is very fine with some minor
storage marks, accessories are fine to very fine. This outstanding cased Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon revolver would be a
superb addition in any antique arms or fine Colt collection!
Provenance: The Robert Allan Collection; The Al Cali Collection;
The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection.
Estimate: 40,000 - 60,000
As pictured & described in
American Arms Collectors, Percussion
Colts and Their Rivals, The Al Cali
Collection by Wilson