This revolver is one of the rarest Colt Dragoon variations: a so-called "Fluck" Dragoon which is now more properly known as a "Second Government Contract Dragoons." More recent findings on this variation are detailed in the article "Debunking the Fluck Myth: Colt Legends Die Hard" by Dick Salzer (Gun Report version included). Salzer states, "The obvious conclusion is that Colt, for reasons of completeness perhaps, chose to number the guns made for the second government contract in a closed, out-of-sequence series, beginning with 2001 and continuing to 3000. That left him with a gap in his civilian production between 1340 and 2000 which he subsequently filled with later production guns." This revolver is listed by serial number in Salzer's "A Follow-up to the 'Debunking the Fluck Myth' Article" (included) which provides a list of 72 serial numbers reported after his first article. Additional documentation also accompanies the revolver, including records showing this revolver was in the Stanford University Museum and Gallery and was previously part of the Percy Morgan Collection and was sold by Stanford in 1968. A letter from May 17, 1968, from Registrar Leonard R. Simon of Stanford University states that "It was a part of the Percy Morgan Collection which apparently was acquired by the Stanfords in the late 1800's as it is listed among the original collections. We have never been able to discover who Percy Morgan was nor the exact date the collection was acquired." The documents note that the collection included "42 firearms of international origin." From our own research, Percy Morgan appears to have been London born California financier Percy Tredegar Morgan (1862-1920). He was associated with many businesses in the American West in the second half of the 19th century and became a trustee of Stanford University on May 3, 1916. He is noted as having decorated his opulent home, Lantarnam Hall (valued around $400,000 when built), with artifacts acquired during his time in Europe. It may have become part of the university collection upon his death by suicide following a serious automobile accident in early 1920. However, a clipping of an advertisement for the revolver claims it belonged "personally to Leland Stanford, Governor of California. It carries a shooter's sight on the hammer, which is very unique. We are sure that this arm was made experimental for a shoulder stock as it's notched through the original grips, which still carries the original inspectors markings." The revolver's serial numbers are marked with the same tiny dies as the civilian Walker revolvers, the Whitneyville Dragoons, and these interesting variations until the dies are presumed to have worn out. Salzer states they wore out around serial number 2650, but this revolver has the tiny numerals and clearly shows the dies were used at least a little longer. Matching full or partial serial numbers in the small "Walker" size numerals are located on the wedge, arbor pin, cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and butt. The assembly number "137" is marked on the bottom of the barrel just ahead of the lug and on the loading lever. A "P" is marked on the back strap behind the hammer and on the left side of the barrel above the wedge screw. The barrel is marked "~ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY~" reading from the breech towards the muzzle. "COLT'S/PATENT/U.S." is marked on the left of the frame. The cylinder has the "MODEL U.S.M.R./COLT'S PATENT" marking, the classic "Ranger and Indian" scene showing the Texas Rangers in a running battle with the Comanche, and the proper First Model Dragoon oval cylinder stops. The trigger guard is the proper First Model Dragoon squareback version. The grip has cartouches on both sides and a rectangular hole cut through towards the middle, possibly for a shoulder stock as alluded above or perhaps a lanyard or for mounting the revolver in a display. The German silver front sight has been filed into a beaded blade style, and a larger U-notch rear sight has been fitted to the hammer. The revolver is accompanied by Colts patent powder flask, brass ball and conical bullet mold, and a very attractive tooled "MAIN & WINCHESTER/MAKERS/SAN FRANCISCO" marked holster. Provenance: The Percy Morgan Collection; The Stanford University Museum and Gallery Collection; Property of a Gentleman