Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Herb Houze
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Colt Hartford English Dragoon Revolver
Hartford English Dragoon Revolver. Parts made in Hartford, and the final assembly and finish done at Colt’s London factory, c. 1853-57; approximately 700 total production.
Basically this Dragoon is a variation of the Third Model (see illustration of standard third Model). The first detail to note for identification is the exclusive serial range from 1 through about 700. British proof stampings are on the breech end of the cylinder and on the left side of the barrel lug (crown over a V and a crown over GP monogram). Grips were most always varnished walnut, and finishing for the metal parts of the revolver was in the fine quality English style blue and color hardening; gripstraps were of brass and silver plated.
Barrel markings were usually one of two variations of ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW-YORK CITY, but a few pistols bear the hand engraved inscription: COLN COLT. LONDON. Frame markings COLTS/PATENT usually hand-engraved on all models; the Texas Ranger and Indian cylinder roll scene was standard.
Some surprising variations are recorded in this model, because Colt’s was cleaning up their parts stock of leftovers from earlier production. Thus, a few pistols were made with square-back trigger guards, some had frames cut for shoulder stocks, V-type mainsprings, and so forth. At least 20 percent of the Hartford English Dragoon production was engraved, in London, and in British style scrolls. About 200 revolvers (many of them engraved) were returned to Hartford in 1861, for use in the Civil War.
Standard Hartford English Dragoon revolver:
| 5B-036 | Values—Good $3,750 | Fine $20,000 |
Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon Revolver
Model 1848 Baby Dragoon Revolver. Manufactured from 1847 through 1850; total of approximately 15,000.
31 caliber. 5-shot cylinder on all variations. Barrel lengths of 3", 4", 5", and 6"; all are octagon, with or without attached loading levers (rare with lever).
Grips of one piece varnished walnut. Casehardened frame, hammer, and lever; remainder blued. The gripstraps of silver plated brass.
The first pocket model to be made at Colt’s Hartford factory, the Baby Dragoon was a diminutive version of the early 44 caliber Dragoon revolvers; the square-back trigger guard is a distinguishing feature. The serial range began with 1, and continued through about 15500. Two types of barrel markings were used, each reading: ADDRESS SAML COLT/NEW-YORK CITY, but one having bracket finials at each end. COLTS/PATENT was marked on the left side of the frame. The cylinder scene for early revolvers is a portion of the Texas Ranger and Indian fight roll as standard on the 44 caliber Dragoons. Later guns (after range of about 10500 to 11000) are standard with the famous stagecoach holdup design.
Major variations: Most Baby Dragoons do not have attached loading levers; the latter feature began to appear in the serial range of about 11600. Pistols without the lever do not have loading cutouts on the right side of the barrel lug; those with levers factory installed will have the cutout. Cylinder types are another basis for determining variants in this model: These are classified by combinations of the roll engraved scene and the shapes of the cylinder stop slots (round and then oval on early guns; rectangular on the late production). Still another detail is in the length of the frame; late production pistols are slightly longer, and this is visible by noting the increased distance between the front of the cylinder and the back of the barrel lug.
As the first pocket Colt revolver made since the collapse of the Paterson enterprise, the Baby Dragoon is an attractive piece to collectors. Such pioneer features as the square-back trigger guard, low serial numbers, oval stop slots, Ranger and Indian cylinder scene, and lack of loading lever are all of particular appeal. With a limited production total, the model offers quite a contrast in scarcity to the successor model, the 1849 Pocket Revolver. Because of their value, and as serial ranges often overlap with the more common “Pocket Models”, this has been an area subject to deception. Deceitfully altered trigger guards (from rounded to squareback) and plugged/welded barrel lugs (where plunger of loading lever was fitted) are sometimes encountered.
Considerable detail on the Baby Dragoon was published in P.L. Shumaker’s Colt’s Variations of the Old Model Pocket Pistol and Jordan & Watts Colt’s Pocket ’49; Its Evolution (see Biblio). Basic breakdown of variations is as follows:
Pistols with the Texas Ranger and Indian fight cylinder scene, in varying barrel lengths; and without attached rammer levers; serial range through about 11600 (some overlap with stagecoach scene cylinders):
5B-037
| 5B-037 | Values—Good $2,500 | Fine $11,500 |
Pistols as above, with left hand barrel stamping, no capping groove on right side of recoil shield. Serial range 1 to 150:
| 5B-038 | Values—Good $3,250 | Fine $17,000 |
Pistols as above, but with the stagecoach holdup cylinder scene; and oval stop slots. Serial range about 10400-12100 (note overlap with other variations):
| 5B-039 | Values—Good $2,500 | Fine $14,000 |
Pistols as above, with stagecoach holdup cylinder, scene and rectangular cylinder stop slots. Serial range approximately 11000 to 12450 (note overlap with other variations):
| 5B-040 | Values—Good $1,750 | Fine $11,000 |
Pistols with the stagecoach cylinder scene, and with attached rammer levers; rectangular cylinder stops; serial range approximately 11600 to 15500:
5B-041
| 5B-041 | Values—Good $2,750 | Fine $15,000 |
Colt Model 1849 Pocket Revolver
Model 1849 Pocket Revolver. Production began in 1850, and continued through 1873; total of the Hartford made series was about 340,000 (by December 1865, the year the Civil War ended, serial number range had reached approximately 280,000). The London Model 1849 totaled about 11,000 and is covered separately below.
31 caliber. 5- and 6-shot cylinders. Barrel lengths of 3", 4", 5", and 6"; octagonal in shape, with or without attached loading levers (majority had levers).
Grips of one piece varnished walnut. Casehardened frame, hammer, and lever; remainder blued. The gripstraps of silver plated brass; a few of steel, blued or silver plated. Oval trigger guards standard, in two sizes.
Successor to the