Cased Colt Baby Dragoon

1st Year Production

An incredibly rare early-production, CASED Colt Baby Dragoon showing early primitive features of the post-Patterson Pocket revolvers.

Dragoon Condition

The Revolver is a very crisp example, all original, of an early Baby Dragoon in very good overall condition. Specific early features are the unique earliest hammer featuring long hand-filed knurling on the spur and the hammer face drilled to accept the tiny, fragile, single locking pin on the back of the cylinder. The pin is still intact, undamaged, and in line with the cylinder marking. Another feature is the earliest “Colt’s/Patent” marking, notably using an apostrophe. The cylinder also shows the early Texas Ranger & Indian Fight scene. These scenes were lightly rolled, as this one is, not a 100% visible, but very strong. The cylinder shows the early round cylinder stops as well. The gun has all matching numbers (#328) on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, barrel, cylinder, cylinder arbor, and wedge. All the other markings are sharp and clear with the early left hand “New York City” barrel address.  Also, the bottom of the grip has a “great” angle of acclivity from the toe to the heel.

CONDITION: The 4” barrel and the cylinder are a smooth grey patina with some blue hue showing on the barrel; case colored frame has faded and shows some oxidation. About 70% of the original silver plating is on the trigger guard, but worn off the back strap. The one-piece walnut grips are excellent and the fit is perfect, showing minor dings and some added finish. The mechanics are excellent, very good bore, and sharp edges throughout.

The Travel Case appears to be made for this gun and may or may not have been provided by Colt with the gun. It’s of the period, somewhat unusual, being leather bound and may be one of the very first cases provided by Colt prior to the later standard oak cases. It includes a key (not working), a brass two cavity Colt marked bullet mold, and an unmarked plunger style brass powder flask similar to those provided with cased Patterson revolvers. The nipple wrench/screwdriver is a modern replacement.

CONDITION: The case is solid but shows a great deal of wear to the brown velvet interior and the exterior shows some chipping to the leather binding and a glued edge along the bottom back side.

History: The early Colt Dragoons, both full size .44 caliber and .31 caliber “Baby” Dragoons were coveted revolvers during the early years of the California Gold Rush. At that time in California, they were selling for inflated prices up to $300. The demand was great and the supply small. Thus, many guns were brought by the miners on their way to the gold fields. This Baby Dragoon for sale with its leather-bound hard wood “travel case” may have been one of those revolvers that made its way to the California gold fields.

Provenance: Castlerock Museum, Alma, Wisconsin.

Clarks Antiques Firearms – Cased Colt Baby Dragoon – Price $9,500.00

Item #1877

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