This is one of 1,000 Model 1848 Dragoon revolvers from the 4th contract that Colt delivered to the U.S. Ordnance Department for the 1851 fiscal year (July 1, 1850-June 30 1851). This revolver has the combination of squareback brass trigger guard and rectangular cylinder stops identified by collectors as features of the "Second Model" 1848 Dragoon revolver. The cylinder has "U.S. DRAGOONS/COLTS PATENT" as opposed to the "MODEL: U.S.M.R." (U.S. Mounted Rifles) markings found on most Dragoon revolvers. The "U.S. DRAGOONS" marking is found only on revolvers in this serial number range and is rare and desirable. The cylinder also has the ranger and Indian fight scene and "W.L. Ormsby Sc. NY." The top barrel flat has "-ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY -." "COLTS/PATENT/U.S." is stamped on the left side of the frame. The Ordnance sub-inspection mark "JH" in a rectangle with rounded ends is stamped on the lower left side of the grip. The lower right side of the grip is stamped with the script "WAT" final inspection mark in a rectangle with rounded ends. A small "H" Ordnance sub-inspector's mark is stamped on the top of the back strap, left side of the hammer, left side of the frame ahead of the patent markings, cylinder, top of the barrel flat, left side of the loading lever and bottom of the trigger guard. The full serial number "8106" is on the loading lever, barrel lug, arbor pin, frame, trigger guard, back strap and cylinder. The wedge is not serial numbered. The barrel has a nickel silver front sight blade.

Fine. This revolver is retains 30% of the blue and color casehardened finish. The professionally renumbered to match barrel has a series of shallow dents on the sides with traces of fine pitting on the lug. The cylinder retains nearly all of the ranger and Indian scene with fully legible "U.S. DRAGOONS" marking. The cylinder blue has faded to a blue/brown patina. The percussion nipples, cylinder and hammer show moderate flash pitting. The loading lever retains at least 75% of the case colors. The case colors on the frame and hammer have developed a mottled, darker patina but nearly 70% of the case colors remain. The grip straps have an attractive patina with minor scratches and handling marks. The grip is very fine with only light handling wear. Both of the Ordnance inspection marks are fully legible. The U.S. contract Model 1848 Dragoon revolvers saw hard use on the frontier between 1848 and 1860 and many remained in service during the Civil War. As a result, U.S. Model 1848 Dragoon revolvers with any remaining finish are quite scarce. Model 1848 Dragoon revolvers with "U.S. DRAGOON" markings on the cylinders are very scarce.