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, falls within the First Model serial number range (1341 through about 8000), and has a First Model hammer, but was upgraded with a Second Model cylinder with square stops which is numbered to the gun ("5668"). The top barrel flat is marked "ADDRESS SAMl COLT NEW-YORK CITY". The left side of the frame is marked "COLT'S/PATENT" (faint) above a clear "U.S". A small inspector initial "G" is present on the trigger guard. Matching full or partial serial numbers appear on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, loading lever, and arbor pin. Illegible number on the wedge.

Good as a well-traveled pre-Civil War Colt holster gun displaying a classic "as found" patina. The nose of the hammer has been filed. The well-worn grips show similar working gun character. Mechanically fine. 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.