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LOT 3137
Rare Documented Cased Factory Engraved Colt Hartford-English Dragoon Percussion Revolver Returned to the U.S. in 1861 for the American Civil War with a Copy of a Factory Letter - Serial no. 160, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This very scarce Colt Hartford-English Dragoon Revolver is one of
just approximately 700 manufactured circa 1853 at Colt’s London Armory using parts from the Colt Armory in Hartford. This revolver has the Second Model Dragoon style squareback trigger guard. Colt cleared out much of its older inventory of parts when it began shipping Dragoon components to London, but it is estimated that only ten with Second Model components have survived, and of those, half are engraved. It was engraved in London with scroll engraving, floral accents around many of the screws, and floral patterns on the bottom of the loading lever arm and the recoil shield. It is documented in the included copy of a factory letter as one of 67 shipped to J.C. Grubb in Philadelphia on September 2, 1861. It is also featured on the cover of the February 1971 issue of Guns magazine and shown in the article “’Case’ History of Colt...Part 1” by James E. Serven. Colt’s Dragoons were evidently not popular in England, but they are well-known to have seen significant use during the American Civil War by cavalry in both the North and South. Colt likely saw an opportunity to sell off the remaining Dragoon revolvers with the outbreak of the war and used it to clear their inventory of obsolete revolvers. The barrel and cylinder have London “crown/GP” and
118 “crown/V” proof and view marks. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped with
the legend: “{ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY}” reading toward the breech. “COLTS/PATENT” is engraved rather than roll-stamped on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas Ranger and Indian battle scene and “MODEL U.S.M.R./COLT’S PATENT.” The matching serial number is marked on the loading lever, wedge, arbor, cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and butt. It comes in a fitted, English style case with
a James Dixon & Sons flask, L-shaped combination screwdriver/nipple wrench, Eley cap tin, dual cavity ball/bullet mold, and a cartridge pack. CONDITION: Fine. The engraving and markings remain crisp. The grip frame retains 75% plus of the original age darkened silver plating. The
iron components have mottled gray patina and some minor oxidation and pitting. The cylinder retains much of the original scene and has most of the safety pins remaining. The grip is very fine and has the vast majority
of the original varnish, minor lower edge wear, and light scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are very good and have mild age and storage related wear, including some chips and slivers absent from the case exterior. This is a very attractive case set and a very interesting piece of Colt history with connections both to the ill-fated Colt London Armory and the American Civil War. These revolvers along with the last of the Third Model Dragoons from Hartford were the last of the large Colt “horse pistols” descended from the famous Colt Walker to be shipped. Having a documented factory engraved example is the dream of most serious Colt collectors!
Estimate: 22,500 - 37,500
AS PICTURED & DESCRIBED IN "GUNS" FROM FEBRUARY 1971