Colt Baby Dragoon 

Circa 1849

An excellent Colt Baby Dragoon made in 1849, serial #8365. It has a 4” barrel with a 5 shot cylinder in .31 caliber. 

Dragoon Condition

The Gun shows light period use, as indicated by its overall condition. The original hammer mainspring broke during it’s period of use and now shows a baized repair that did not function properly. I figure at this point in time the gun went into a drawer for who knows how many decades, until a collector acquired it. The gun was then “cleaned up” somewhat and an additional spring was added underneath the original repaired one to correct the hammer function. The revolver shows no professional restoration.

The barrel shows 99% of the original blue, toning to blue/brown with more natural thinning blue on the underside of the barrel. Although, the cylinder bluing is gone, it still shows a nice Indian fighting scene lightly rolled on it. Light rolled scenes were normal and finding one completely visible is uncommon. The frame looks to be cleaned and polished with very fine steel wool to bring out some of the case colors. The trigger guard and backstrap shows 98% of silver plating that may have been re-applied.  Some of these later baby dragoons did have some heavy silver plating and this could have been one of those as well. Also, the grips are excellent, showing to be an old re-applied varnish as well.

All the serial numbers, #8365, are stamped in all seven (7) places. As well as the barrel wedge. The serial number is also penciled in the wood grip channel. All the markings are sharp and clear and all the parts appear to be original to the gun. It has a left-handed New York barrel address, correct and occasionally found in this serial number range. William Tuller’s “T” inspection stamp is on the back right side of the trigger guard. All the edges are sharp and crisp. The mechanics are good and the gun functions as it should with the “fixed” mainspring. The 5 shot cylinder has only one cylinder pin (now smashed), correct for this model. The bore is good, showing bold rifling with typical black powder erosion and all the original screws show good slots.

It’s a great looking Baby Dragoon that has had some minor clean-up, rarely found in this condition.

Clarks Antiques Firearms – Colt Baby Dragoon – Price $9,000.00

Item #1852

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