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LOT 1178
Scarce U.S. Contract Colt Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver Serial Number 18942
with Folding Rear Sight, Scarce U.S. Dragoons Cylinder Marking,
and Martially Inspected Shoulder Stock Serial Number 18945/18946 - Serial no. 18942, 44 cal., 7 1/2 inch
part octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock, walnut grips. The Third Model Dragoon revolvers are the last
of the large .44 caliber Colt “revolving holster pistols” that began with the famous Colt Walker in 1847. This revolver was manufactured in 1860 under
contract with the U.S. government. Most of these revolvers saw hard use on the frontier with the 1st and 2nd Dragoons and U.S. Regiment of Mounted Riflemen and were subsequently used by both sides during the Civil War. U.S. issued Dragoons in high condition are hard to find. The revolver has the round brass trigger guard and rectangular cylinder stops found on Third Model Dragoons. The top flat of the barrel has a German silver 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 Indian fight scene and the desirable “U.S. DRAGOONS” marking. Matching serial numbers are found on the loading lever, wedge, arbor pin, cylinder, barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The rear mortise of the grip is marked with the matching partial serial number “8942” in black ink and the full number “18942” in pencil. The grip also has a faint cartouche on the left, a faint, almost illegible “WAT” cartouche on the right, and “GDM” markings on each side at the butt. “K” inspection marks are on the barrel, cylinder, and top of the back strap. The closely numbered, almost matching shoulder stock is numbered “18945/18946” on the lower tang and buttplate and a faint cartouche and legible “WAT” cartouche on the left side of the wrist. Internally “1894” is also handwritten in the lower tang mortise, “18945/18946” is marked on the inside of the locking hardware, “H” is stamped on the butt above “18945” marked in black ink twice. Also includes a .44 caliber dual cavity bullet mold with “COLT’S/PATENT” marked sprue cutter and “S” marked on the body on the right and “3RD MDL (TYPE III)/DRAGOON” in marker on the left. CONDITION: Very good plus with strong traces of original blue finish on the sides of the breech section, 30% bright original casehardened finish on the sides of the matching number loading lever arm, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, minor spotting, and mild overall wear. The brass has light aged patina. The grip is very good and has mild wear primarily on the lower edges. Mechanically fine. The shoulder stock is very good and has traces of original blue finish mainly on the buttplate, darker brown and gray patina on the balance, minor dings and scratches, a chip at the rear of the upper tang, a small divot on the right side of the wrist, and general mild wear. The refinished bullet mold is fair and has mild pitting. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
barrel address, “COLTS/PATENT” frame marking, frame cut for a shoulder stock, a cylinder flute with the patent date marking, and matching serial numbers on the frame, barrel, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, wedge, and cylinder arbor pin. CONDITION: Fine, retaining bright patterns of original case colors in the protected areas, 30% of the bright original high polish blue finish in and around the protected areas with the heaviest amounts on the underside of the barrel, and 85% original silver plating. The grip is fine with much of the varnish, some high edge wear and minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. An exceptional, above average condition Colt Model 1860 Army revolver with scarce and desirable fluted cylinder. Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000
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LOT 1179
Scarce and Exceptional Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver with Desirable Fluted Cylinder - Serial no. 2061, 44 cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened/silver finish, walnut grips. This early Colt Model 1860 Army was manufactured in 1861 and has the highly desirable early full fluted cylinder. While over 200,000 Army Model revolvers were manufactured, only around 4,000 were manufactured with fluted cylinders, making this variation especially desirable. Some were even shipped to the South before and at the very beginning of the Civil War. Of the small amount of these fluted cylinder revolvers made, most of them were no doubt heavily used during the war, making the condition of this surviving example particularly fine considering. This example features the one-line Hartford
Collector’s Fact
One of only approximately 4,000 Colt Model 1860 Army revolvers produced with
a fluted cylinder, many of which were sent to the South prior to the Civil War.