This Colt Sidehammer Dragoon revolver is believed to have been manufactured in 1860. This experimental revolver was manufactured by Colt as the prototype for a solid frame .44 caliber handgun that incorporated the advanced features introduced on the Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket revolvers and revolving long arms. In addition, this revolver features the creeping loading lever patented by Elisha K. Root in 1859, which was standard on Model 1855 Sidehammer arms and later adopted on the Models 1860, 1861 and 1862 revolvers. This massive revolver has the solid frame with grooved top strap, fluted cylinder, side mounted hammer and center pin that enters from the rear of the frame which are characteristic features of Model 1855 Sidehammer Pocket revolvers and revolving rifles. The barrel has a half moon shaped nickel silver front sight blade and a folding leaf Dragoon style rear sight mounted on the barrel just ahead of the frame. The hammer has fine bordered knurling on the spur. The trigger guard and back strap are blued steel. The barrel, frame, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap have a high polish blue finish. The loading lever and hammer are color casehardened. The rear sight, center pin, trigger, percussion nipples and screw heads are a fire blue. The revolver is fitted with two-piece varnished walnut grips. There are no external markings or serial numbers on the revolver. This revolver was formerly part of the Connecticut State Library collection and is illustrated on page 151 of "THE BOOK OF COLT FIREARMS" by R.L. Wilson. According to Wilson, the revolver was not made from modified rifle frames, but was specially designed and constructed as a handgun. In fact, this revolver is one of several experimental handguns Colt built in a variety of sidehammer styles. This revolver is almost certainly the only example of a Dragoon style Colt Model 1855 Sidehammer revolver in existence. Also see James Serven's "COLT FIREARMS From 1836" for further information pertaining to the experimental Colt sidehammer revolvers. A .36 caliber experimental sidehammer revolver is pictured and described in Serven's book on page 126. Variations of the sidehammer arm were part of the Colt production line from 1855 to 1873 with total production of handguns reaching 40,000. This revolver is a physical link to the development story of the Colt sidehammer and to 19th century Colt engineering that is rarely seen outside factory or museum walls.

Excellent. This revolver retains 95% of the original high polish blue finish showing light edge wear at the muzzle and some scattered minor handling and storage marks. The cylinder has some thinning on the chambers. The percussion nipples retain most of the fire blue finish. The grip strap has some finish loss behind the trigger guard, and the blue on the upper portion of the back strap is thin. 90% original case colors remain on the loading lever and hammer. The frame screws, rear sight and trigger retain half of the original niter blue finish. The grip is very fine with a small chip missing from the left side and some shallow dents and handling marks overall and retaining 85% of the original varnish. The action functions fine. This is a unique and historically significant experimental Colt revolver that would be the centerpiece of the finest Colt collection.