Manufactured in 1851, this is an example of a highly desirable U.S. and New Hampshire militia marked Colt Second Model Dragoon revolver. Colt manufactured 2,700 Second Model Dragoon Revolvers in 1850-1851 thus making this variation the rarest of all models of Colt Dragoon Revolvers. A large percentage of these revolvers were manufactured for the Army. This particular revolver is extremely rare in that it is one of only a few hundred that were issued to the New Hampshire and Massachusetts militias and appear within about 10,000 to the lower 11,000 serial number range. The Dragoon was issued to the New Hampshire militia with the militia marking on the left side of the barrel lug and some have estimated that there were 150 Dragoons issued to the New Hampshire militia. The Second Model Dragoon revolver features on this example is the combination of square back trigger guard and rectangular cylinder stops. The part octagon barrel is fitted with a nickel silver blade front sight with the top of the barrel stamped "-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY-" on the top flat. The left side of the barrel lug is stamped "NEW HAMPSHIRE". The left side of the frame is marked "COLT'S/PATENT/U.S.". The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Ranger and Indian fight scene and "MODEL U.S.M.R./1244/COLT'S PATENT". The barrel and cylinder originally had a blue finish and the loading lever, frame and hammer were casehardened. The matching serial number is on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard, loading lever, wedge, cylinder pin, cylinder and back strap. Single letter inspector marks are present on the back strap and trigger guard. The one-piece walnut grip has no visible markings. The three handwritten letters included in the lot relate the provenance of the revolver. According to these letters, the revolver was obtained by Herbert L. Wilkinson as a prize for winning a turkey shoot when he was a boy. A copy of Herbert Wilkinson's death certificate shows life dates of 6-30-1860 to 11-21-1936. It is reported that in the 1950s the revolver was blued (now absent). The revolver stayed in the Wilkinson family until Vernon Wilkinson sold the firearm to Dunbar Gun Co. on March 3, 1978. The revolver was then sold to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Harry G. Karegeannes on November 26, 1978. A simple internet search found a listing for a Maj. Gen. Harry G. Karegeannes, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Depot System Command, circa 1991.

Good. The revolver has a bright appearance showing limited very light pin point pitting. The fine cylinder retains most of the original ranger and Indian fight scene. Strong traces of original silver plating remain around the trigger, otherwise the brass also has a bright appearance. The refinished grip is fine with a few minor handling marks. Mechanically fine. An extremely rare and desirable New Hampshire Militia marked Second Model Dragoon.