Six-shot, .40 caliber, percussion revolver manufactured by the Massachusetts Arms Co. of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, circa 1850-1851. The Massachusetts Arms Co. Dragoon revolver was an early competitor to Colt. Samuel Colt successfully sued the company for patent infringement in 1851 and obtained an injunction to enforce the decision. The Massachusetts Arms Co. was forced to redesign their revolvers to incorporate a manually revolved cylinder to avoid patent infringement. Only about 800 Massachusetts Arms Dragoon revolvers were produced before the successful Colt lawsuit stopped production. This revolver has a six-inch round barrel, six-shot cylinder and very desirable factory loading lever. A brass cone front sight is mounted on the barrel and a small fixed rear sight is located on the top strap. The barrel, frame, cylinder and back strap have a high polish blue finish. The cylinder is acid etched with floral and martial motifs. The hammer and loading lever are color casehardened and the trigger guard is silver plated. The two-piece walnut grips have a high polish piano finish. The top and sides of the frame and top strap are decorated with broad scroll engraving on a punch-dot background. The top of the barrel and the muzzle are decorated with simple floral engraving and zig-zag borders. Simple zig-zag designs are engraved on the sides of the barrel lug and the back strap. The bottom of the trigger guard is decorated with open scrollwork engraving.

Excellent. The revolver is all original and shows only careful handling wear. 90% plus of the bright high polish blue finish is present on the barrel, cylinder and frame. The blue finish on the back strap, butt and grip strap is thin and about 70% remains. The cylinder retains all of the acid etched floral and martial decorations. The hammer and loading lever retain nearly all of the vivid case colors. The well-executed scroll engraving on the frame and top strap is extremely crisp. The grips are in excellent condition and retain nearly all of the high polish piano finish. The action functions perfectly. This is an excellent example of a rare and historically significant Massachusetts Arms Co. Dragoon revolver with factory engraving.