The First Model Dragoon is an important descendant of the famous Colt Walker revolver which debuted just one year earlier and was meant for use by the U.S. Mounted Riflemen and U.S. Dragoons and saw use on the western frontier in the antebellum era and on the battlefields of the Civil War in both Union and Confederate hands. This specific revolver was manufactured in 1849. It has the distinctive First Model oval cylinder stops and brass square back trigger guard. The top barrel flat is marked "ADDRESS SAMl COLT NEW-YORK CITY". The left side of the frame is marked "COLT'S/PATENT/U.S". Small inspection letters are present: "G" ahead of the trigger guard, "B" on the butt, "B" on the top barrel flat, "B" on the trigger guard and "B" on the back strap. The butt is lightly hand inscribed "NCVA," possibly in reference to a North Carolina volunteer artillery regiment. During the Civil War, for instance, Confederate North Carolina artillery units included the 1st Artillery (10th State Troops), 2nd Artillery (36th State Troops) and 3rd Artillery (40th State Troops) while the Union had the 1st North Carolina Heavy Artillery Regiment (redesignated 14th U.S. Colored Artillery Regiment). Matching full or partial serial numbers are on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, loading lever, wedge, and cylinder pin. Only an estimated 7,000 Colt First Model Dragoon revolvers were manufactured in 1848 to 1850. They are important to collectors of antique American revolvers in general and Colts in particular as one of Samuel Colt's large "holster pistols" descended from the famous Colt Walker. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Good with a smooth gray patina, pitting, slight traces of the cylinder scene remaining, attractive mellow patina on the brass and grip with repair and small chip near the bottom, high edge wear and minor handling marks. Mechanically fine. A solid representative example of a Colt Dragoon revolver with well-defined character.