Only an estimated 2,700 Second Model Dragoons revolvers were manufactured around 1850 and 1851 compared to 7,000 of the First Model Dragoons and 10,500 Third Model Dragoons. They are thus by far the scarcest of the primary Colt Dragoon models that descended from the iconic Colt Walker. They saw considerable use by the U.S. Mounted Rifles and Dragoons in the antebellum era in the Old West and continued to see use through the Civil War. This late 2nd Model is a U.S. contract revolver manufactured in 1851 and features a German silver blade front sight, "-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-" on top of the barrel, "COLT'S/PATENT/U.S." on the left side of the frame, the Texas Ranger and Comanche fight scene on the cylinder along with the "U.S.M.R." marking and rectangular stops, square back trigger guard, all matching visible serial numbers, some small single letter inspection marks, a "JCB" cartouche on the left side of the grip (Joseph C. Bragg) with a deeper "X" stamped over it, a "W.A.T." cartouche on the right (Captain William Anderson Thornton), and "MS" stamped into the trigger guard in front of the bow for Massachusetts indicting this revolver was issued to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the Militia Act as discussed in "Massachusetts Marked Colt Second Model Dragoon Revolvers: Their Early History and U.S. Civil War Issue" by Douglas L. Hays Jr. He indicates only 100 of these revolvers were procured from the U.S. Ordnance Department for the Massachusetts Militia in 1852 and estimates only 20 are known to exist today.

Vey good with mostly gray and light brown patina on the iron, distinct markings and cylinder scene, aged patina on the grip straps, and mild overall wear. The grip is fine and has legible markings, minor dings and scratches, and some faint cracks towards the top (one showing a repair). Mechanically fine. This is a very scarce variation of the already scarce Colt Second Model Dragoon and will be an impressive addition to any Colt, Civil War, or U.S. Military collection!