This commercial production Colt Model 1848 Dragoon revolver was manufactured c. 1854. The revolver has the combination of rectangular cylinder bolt stops and rounded brass trigger guard that identify it as a Third Model Dragoon revolver. "L. KUHLMANN" is neatly stamped on the butt in block letters. A genealogy that accompanies the revolver identifies John Ludwig Kuhlmann (1821-1886) as the probable owner. Kuhlmann was a German immigrant who settled in Gillespie, County, Texas near Fredericksburg during the 1850s. The revolver originally had a blue barrel and cylinder with casehardened loading lever, frame and hammer and silver-plated brass trigger guard and back strap. The one piece walnut grip had a varnished piano finish. The top barrel flat is roll-stamped: "-COL. SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY-" reading toward the breech. "COLTS/PATENT" is stamped in two lines on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Ranger and Indian fight scene and "MODEL U.S.M.R./COLTS PATENT" on either side of the serial number. The full serial number is stamped on the: (1) barrel lug, (2) frame, (3) trigger guard, (4) back strap and (5) cylinder. The partial serial number "3895" is stamped on the loading lever. All of the visible serial numbers match.

Good. With the exception of the period installed front and rear sights the revolver and shows wear typical of a firearm that was used on the Texas frontier. This revolver has a mottled silver-gray patina with scattered light pitting and small dents and scratches. The cylinder has half of the Ranger and Indian scene and Colt markings visible. The rear face of the cylinder has moderate flash pitting with hammer battering on the edges of the cylinder and safety pins. The brass trigger guard and back strap have an attractively aged patina and are in very good overall condition with scattered scratches and handling marks. The walnut grip has been re-varnished and is in very good condition. The action functions well. This is a solid example of a Colt Third Model Dragoon revolver that was carried on the Texas frontier in the years before the Civil War.