This revolver was manufactured in 1858 and bears U.S. government contract inspection markings. Many of the U.S. contract Dragoon revolvers saw hard use on the frontier with the 1st and 2nd Dragoons and U.S. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen in the West in the antebellum era, and Dragoon revolvers are known to have been used by both sides during the Civil War. The revolver has the round brass trigger guard and rectangular cylinder stops found on Third Model Dragoons. It also features the distinctive three-leaf rear sight and a "four-screw" frame (actually five) and iron back strap cut for mounting a shoulder stock (not included). Pistol-carbines were experimented with in the 1850s to provide cavalrymen with more versatile weapons rather than a carbine and a handgun but ultimately were not particularly successful. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight and "ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW" cutoff by the three-leaf rear sight (one standing, two folding). The left side of the frame is marked "COLTS/PATENT/U.S." The cylinder has the Texas Ranger and Indian fight scene. Matching serial numbers are found on the loading lever, wedge, arbor pin, cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. There are single letter government inspector type markings on various parts.

Very good with gray and brown patina, some light surface pitting, mostly distinct markings, light but distinct cylinder scene, and general mild overall wear appropriate for a weapon that saw use on the western frontier and/or in the Civil War. The undersized, refinished grip is good and has minor contact wear from mounting a stock at the top, minor lower edge wear, and some scattered light scratches and marks. Mechanically fine. The Third Model Dragoons were the last of Samuel Colt's massive revolvers that followed the famous Colt Walker and are important and historic firearms thanks to their ties to the antebellum West and the Civil War.