Page 141 - 4096-FLIPBOOK3

LOT 3201
Well-Documented Streamlined Prototype Colt Dragoon
Percussion Revolver Serial Number 60 - Serial no. 60, 44 cal., 7
1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened/brass finish, walnut grips.
Around 7,000 First Model Dragoons were manufactured in 1848-
1850. These revolvers built upon the success of the famous Colt
Walker and provided serious firepower in an era still dominated by
single shot firearms. Though they packed a punch, the Dragoons
revolvers were notably heavy which made them difficult to carry
aside from in pommel holsters as they weighed a little over 4
pounds each. Colt experimented with different designs to lighten
the Dragoons to make them more portable. These “streamlined”
Dragoons revolvers are the forerunners of the Model 1860 Army.
This fascinating revolver features a rounded breech on the barrel
as well as narrower barrel lug, a full-fluted cylinder, and a lightened
frame design. Due to the narrower front of the frame and barrel
lug, the frame has a single centered pin in the front instead of the
usual dual pins. “60” is marked on the cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger
guard, and back strap. “3184” is marked on the loading lever. The
barrel has a brass blade front sight and “-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-
YORK CITY-” marked on top. The revolver weighs around 3 pounds
12 ounces and is featured in “A History of the Colt Revolver” by
Haven and Belden and where it was identified as from J. C. Harvey’s
collection. Page 56 of “The William M. Locke Collection” by Sellers
features one of these experimental Dragoons with a cut away barrel
lug and the “creeping” type loading lever, and p. 77 of “The Book of
Colt Firearms” by Sutherland and Wilson has another lightened and
fluted cylinder Dragoon from the Locke collection that is identified
as previously owned by Caldwell Colt.
CONDITION: Fine with 80% of the period refinished blue finish,
mix of brown patina and patterns of case colors, attractively aged
patina on the brass grip straps, fairly minimal wear on the metal,
and edge wear and scratches dings on the grip.
Mechanically functions.
Provenance: The J. C. Harvey Collection; The Charles Marx
Collection.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
As pictured &
described in A History
of the Colt Revovler by
Haven & Belden
139