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LOT 139
Very Scarce Colt “Fluck/Walker Replacement” Variation Dragoon Percussion Revolver - Serial no. 2768, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut grips. This variation was first researched and nicknamed the “Walker Replacement
Dragoons” when identified by researcher John J. Fluck in 1956. He estimated 300 were made to replace the
Walker revolvers that had failed and indicated they were made for the U.S. military using original Walker parts
and reworked parts. More recent research by Dick Salzer, David Basnet, G. Maxwell Longfield, and others 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 but were instead actually the first
Dragoon revolvers sold to the U.S. government. 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.” He also notes that the tiny serial number numerals were stamped with the same dies as the civilian Walker revolvers, the Whitneyville Dragoons, and on the early “pre-First Model Dragoons” until the dies are presumed to have worn out around serial number 2650. These are among the rarest of the roughly 19,000 Colt Dragoon revolvers. It has the distinctive oval
cylinder stops and brass square back trigger guard. “ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY” is marked on the top barrel flat reading from the breech towards the muzzle. “COLT’S/PATENT/U.S.” is marked on the left of the frame. The cylinder has the more common “MODEL U.S.M.R./COLT’S PATENT” marking and the classic “Ranger and Indian” scene showing the Texas Rangers in a running battle with the Comanche. Matching full or partial serial numbers in small “Walker” size numerals are on the arbor pin, cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and butt. There are some small inspection marks.
CONDITION: Good with gray and brown patina, mild oxidation and pitting, modified front sight and loading lever, aged patina on the grip straps, and general moderate overall wear. The grip is fair and has chips visible at the toe and heel, moderate scratches and dings, handling wear, and shrinkage. The mainspring is fairly light, but the revolver otherwise functions fine. These rare “pre-1st Model Dragoons” are important to collectors of antique American revolvers in general, and collectors of Colts in particular as one of Samuel Colt’s large “holster pistols” or “horse pistols” descended from the famous Colt Walker.
Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000
LOT 140
Fine Civil War U.S. Contract Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver - Serial no. 62280, 44 percussion cal., 8 inch bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut grips. U.S. contract Colt M1860 Army revolver manufactured in 1862. The revolver has a three-screw frame with stock cut-outs in the recoil shields and back strap. The barrel,
cylinder and back strap have the military blue finish and the loading lever, frame and hammer are casehardened. The trigger
guard is brass and the one-piece walnut grip has an oil finish. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the standard Texas Navy battle scene and stamped “COLTS
PATENT NO.” and “PAT. SEPT 10TH 1850”. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line legend: “-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S.AMERICA-”. “COLTS/PATENT” is stamped in two lines on the left side of the frame. “K”, “M” or “H” Ordnance sub-inspection marks are stamped on most components. The full
serial number is stamped on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number “2280” is stamped on the cylinder, arbor pin and wedge. All of the visible serial numbers match. An Ordnance inspection mark that consists of three script letters surrounded by an oval is stamped on the lower left side of the grips and a similar
two-letter final inspection mark is stamped on the lower right side. The Colt M1860 Army revolver was the primary handgun issued to Federal cavalry regiments during the Civil War and it remained the primary cavalry revolver until the adoption of the Colt Model 1873 Cavalry Revolver.
CONDITION: Fine. The revolver retains 60% of the original military blue finish on the barrel and 40% on the cylinder. The back strap has 30% of the original blue finish. The cylinder retains nearly all of the roll- engraved scene with sharp patent markings. The cylinder safety pins are intact but battered and the percussion nipples and
rear face of the cylinder show moderate flash pitting. The barrel lug has the typical small dents and hammer marks around the right side of the wedge slot. The loading lever, frame and hammer have 60% of the original casehardened finish with strong case colors. There is light-moderate flash pitting on the sides and face of the hammer. The oil-finished walnut grip remains in fine condition; wear is primarily
confined to small dents on edges of the butt. The ordnance inspection marks are clear and legible. Two illegible initials are period scratched on the right side of the butt. The action is crisp and functions perfectly.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
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