This fine Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver was manufactured in 1853. The revolver has a blued barrel and cylinder, casehardened loading lever, frame and trigger guard and brass trigger guard and backstrap. The one-piece walnut grip has a varnished finish. The revolver has the oval trigger guard and rectangular stop slots that are characteristic of the Third Model Dragoon revolvers. The barrel is non-factory fitted with a nickel-silver, dove-tail mounted front sight and dove-tail mounted buck horn front sight. Both sights are contemporary to the revolver and are professionally fitted but are not factory installations. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "{ ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY}" reading toward the breech. The left side of the frame is stamped: "COLTS/PATENT/U.S." in three lines. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the ranger and Indian battle scene and "MODEL U.S.M.R./COLT'S PATENT" on either side of the serial number. The bottom of the backstrap is stamped "23"; this is probably a military identification number. A small "B" sub-inspection mark is stamped on the cylinder but the revolver lacks the single letter Ordnance sub-inspection marks stamped on nearly every component of military Dragoon revolvers and the grip shows no indication of ever having been stamped with the Ordnance sub-inspector's and final inspector's script cartouches. The full serial number, "13271" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number, "3271" is stamped on the loading lever and cylinder and written in ink on the backstrap recess of the grip. The cylinder pin is stamped "271". All of the visible serial numbers match except the cylinder which is number "11392". The wedge is not numbered.

Fine. The revolver retains 60% of the original blue and 30% casehardened finish. The cylinder has nearly all of the ranger and Indian scene intact. The revolver shows limited firing wear. There is minimal flash pitting on the rear face of the cylinder, percussion nipples or forcing cone. Three of the cylinder safety pins are battered. The brass trigger guard and backstrap have a mellow patina. The action is tight and functions well. This is a fine example of a scarce and very desirable Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver.