U.S. Contract Colt Second Model Dragoon revolver issued to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under the Militia Act and stamped "MS" in front of the trigger guard. According to the 2013 publication "Massachusetts Marked Colt Second Model Dragoon Revolvers Their Early History and U.S. Civil War Issue" by Douglas L. Hays, Jr. only 100 Colt Second Model Dragoons were procured from the U.S. Ordnance Department by the Massachusetts Militia in 1852. Hays estimates about only about 20 "MS" marked Second Model Dragoons are known to exist today. The serial numbers are scattered randomly and span a numerical range of 450. The revolver has the distinctive combination of rectangular cylinder stops and square back brass trigger guard that identify Second Model Dragoon revolvers. The barrel and cylinder have the subdued Colt military blue finish and the loading lever, frame and hammer have the dove-gray case colors found on military contact Dragoon revolvers. The trigger guard and back strap are brass and the one-piece walnut grip has an oil finish. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "{-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-}". "COLT'S/PATENT/U.S." is roll-stamped in three lines on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Ranger and Indian fight scene and "MODEL U.S.M.R./COLT'S PATENT". The lower left grip is stamped with the Ordnance sub-inspection mark which consists of the script initials "JCB" in a rectangle. The lower right side of the grip is stamped with the Ordnance final inspection mark which has the script initials "WAT" in an oval. A single letter "B" Ordnance sub-inspection mark is stamped on the back strap, left side of the hammer, left side of the frame, cylinder, top barrel flat, left side of the lever and left heel of the grip. The full serial number, "10618" is stamped on the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, back strap and cylinder. The cylinder has been professionally re-numbered. The partial serial number "0618" is stamped on the lever. "618" is stamped on the cylinder pin and wedge. Colt manufactured fewer Second Model Dragoon revolvers (2,700) than any other Dragoon revolver. This revolver was formerly part of the Arnold Marcus Chernoff collection and includes a 1968 dated letter from Chernoff that describes the pistol.

Fine. The revolver is original and retains 75% of the blue and color casehardened finish. Most of the original blue finish is present on the barrel. The Colt legend and Ordnance sub-inspection marks are crisp. The frame and hammer retain at least 30% of the casehardened finish. The serial number, patent markings and sub-inspection marks are all sharp. The case colors on the lever have faded slightly but retains about 85%. The renumbered cylinder has nearly all of the roll engraved Ranger and Indian scene, "USMR" and COLT"S PATENT" markings and 50% of the dull blue finish. The cylinder pins are battered from dry firing but the cylinder and percussion nipples have no flash pitting. The brass trigger guard and back strap have a mellow un-polished patina with crisp markings. The grip is excellent with wear limited to some shallow dents on the butt. The "JCB" sub-inspection mark is extremely sharp and the "WAT" final inspection mark is clear. This is an unfired "MS" U.S. Contract Second Dragoon revolver that almost certainly had the cylinder interchanged with another MS revolver during actual service. This is a great looking example of a rare "MS" marked Colt Second Model U.S. Contact revolver in condition that would be difficult to improve upon.