This revolver is one of two experimental Colt Dragoon revolvers (Serial No. 2 is in the Connecticut State Library Collection) which incorporate a number of features utilized on the Colt Model 1860 Army revolver. This massive revolver features an eight-inch round barrel with cogged loading lever, ball-style lever latch, fluted cylinder and scalloped frame. The recoil shields and back strap are cut for a detachable shoulder stock, and the four screw frame has elongated screws to engage the stock yoke. The revolver has an oval steel trigger guard and steel back strap. The barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap have a military blue finish, and the lever, frame and hammer are color casehardened. The one-piece walnut grip is oil-finished. The serial number "1" is located on the: bottom of the barrel lug, wedge, lever, cylinder pin, cylinder, frame, trigger guard and back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. A tiny six-pointed star is stamped on the face of the cylinder adjacent to the cylinder pin hole. The revolver has no other visible markings. The revolver is complete with a detachable shoulder stock with brass yoke and buttplate. The stock has a bright steel sling ring mounted on the lower tang with blued adjustment thumb wheel and hook. The stock is oil-finished black walnut. The collection number "2014" is stamped on both sides of the stock wrist. This number indicates that the revolver/stock were formerly part of the A.E. Brooks/U.S. Cartridge Company Collections. This revolver and stock were subsequently owned by William M. Locke and are illustrated and described on page 56 of "The Wm M. Locke Collection" by Sellers. Colt Experimental Dragoon Serial No. 2 is illustrated on page 158 of "The Book of Colt Firearms" by R.L. Wilson and on page 93 of "Colt Firearms 1836-1960" by James E. Serven. Serial No. 2 Experimental Dragoon appears to be in the same configuration as serial No. 1 except that it has a three-screw frame, and the recoil shields are not cut for a detachable stock yoke.

Exceptionally fine. 90% of the vivid original case colors are present on the frame and lever. The hammer has been lightly cleaned and the case colors have faded to a blue patina. The blue finish on the cylinder, trigger guard and back strap remains at least 90% complete. The top and left side of the barrel were cleaned long ago and have a mottled blue-gray patina. The balance of the barrel retains 75% of the original blue finish. There is no flash pitting or evidence of firing wear on the percussion nipples and rear face of the cylinder. All of the cylinder safety pins are mostly complete. The frame screws retain nearly all of the fire blue finish and show no screwdriver wear. The walnut grip remains in very fine-excellent condition with nearly all the original oil finish with very minor handling and storage marks. The detachable shoulder stock is in excellent condition. The walnut stock has all of the original oil finish complete with un-handled, raised grain and minimal handling marks. The Brooks/U.S. Cartridge Co. collection numbers stamped on the stock wrist are crisp. The brass yoke has a very attractive, un-touched patina and the thumb wheel and stock hook have nearly all of the original blue finish. This is an unique and historically significant experimental revolver which illustrates Colts design changes for .44 caliber percussion revolvers which were eventually incorporated in the Model 1860 Army revolver. The provenance to the A.E. Brooks Collection, the U.S. Cartridge Co. collection and the William M. Locke Collection establishes this unique revolver as one of the great rarities in Colt percussion firearms.