Manufactured in 1849, this revolver was manufactured as a 5 inch barrel variant with the rarely found loading lever and the round cylinder stops. The top of the barrel is marked "ADDRESS SAML COLT / NEW-YORK CITY" with dashes at each end, reading from breech to muzzle (referred by some as "left handed"), "COLTS / PATENT" on the left side of the frame. "COLTS / PATENT" over the serial number is visible on the cylinder, the scene is absent. The matching serial number is marked on the barrel, cylinder, frame, trigger guard, (with a "F" below), wedge and backstrap. A "54" is visible on the arbor pin. This revolver was finished blue on the barrel and cylinder, casehardened frame and hammer, silver-plated brass trigger guard and backstrap. It has the square back trigger guard and fitted with smooth one piece walnut grips. This revolver is discussed in an article "An Uncommon Variation Of A Common Colt in the December 1980 "The Texas Gun Collector" (copy included). The author, and one time owner of the piece, beliefs that these early Baby Dragoons had the loading levers added after original manufacture and discusses his reasoning. Colt manufactured about 15,000 of these revolver before the introduction of the 1849 Pocket revolver. Complete with a tooled leather holster.

Very good. The metal surfaces have a smooth brown patina with some traces of faded original case colors on the frame. The brass has an aged patina with strong original silver on the butt and traces of original silver in the protected areas of the trigger guard. There is a little play in the loading lever and barrel. The action is fine. Unless mentioned above, the markings are clear. With the exception of a rip and hole on the upper right side, the holster is very good with some age cracking, flaking and tight stitching.