Colt Dragoon Revolver

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Colt Dragoon Revolver
Third Model Dragoon (Uberti Replica)
Type	Revolver
Place of origin	U.S.
Service history
In service	1848-60
Used by	U.S. and primarily, civilians also produced in London Armory circa 1851-55
Production history
Designer	Samuel Colt
Designed	1848 through 1850
Manufacturer	Colt Firearms
Produced	c.1848-1860
Number built	9,500
Variants	Walker Transitions, First and Second Models
Specifications
Weight	4 lb 4 ounces
Length	14.75 inchs
Barrel length	Barrel=7.5 inches

Caliber	.44 ball, revolver (.454 in., dia.)
Action	single-action
Muzzle velocity	850-1.100 feet per second depending on powder/projectile
Effective range	50 yards
Feed system	six-round cylinder
Sights	blade front sight, hammer notch rear sight Some with sight mounted on rear of barrel for use with shoulder stock

The Colt Model 1848 Percussion Army Revolver is a .44 caliber revolver designed by Samuel Colt for the U.S. Army's Mounted Rifles, also known as "Dragoons." This revolver was designed as a solution to numerous problems encountered with the Walker Colt. Although it was introduced after the Mexican-American War, it became popular among civilians during the 1850s and '60s, and was also used during the American Civil War.

Third Model Dragoon Circa 1850, over contemporary Pocket Model variation for scale

Dragoon Bullets

1 Size
2 Popularity
3 Production
4 Present
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Size

The Dragoon was produced because of the problems of the Colt Walker revolver. These problems were the Walker's large size, four and a half pounds. The cylinders of the revolvers some times exploded. The Colt Dragoon Revolver had a comparatively shorter cylinder and held up to 50 grains of powder and a round ball. It had a shorter barrel at 7.5 inches (some later revolvers 8 inches) as compared to the 9 inches barrel on the Walker. A loading lever latch in front of the lever replaced the spring to keep the lever surely from dropping during recoil and prevented jamming of the revolver. These variations made the Colt Dragoon Revolver 4 pounds two ounces. These changes reduced risks of the Colt Dragoon Revolver from exploding when fired.

[edit] Popularity

In the troublesome events that led to the Civil War, Colt Dragoons became extremely popular. In the beginning Colt Dragoon Revolver were issued for the U.S. Army's Mounted Rifles. They were carried in pommel holsters on the saddle. The Colt Dragoon Revolver gained popularity among civilians in the Southwest where many had served in the Mexican-American War. The Dragoon became a master weapon for civilians who hailed it as a powerful weapon of the time.

Famous users included Juaquin Murietta Californio resistance fighter (or bandit, depending on perspective), Charlene (Charlie) Parkhurst,California teamster and, probably Hariette Tubman of the underground railroad. Parkhurst, while driving freight, was confronted by two bandits whom she dispatched with the Colt Holster Pistol. According to Harper's Weekley, James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickock arrived in Springfield, Missouri carrying a Dragoon though it is generally accepted that he used a Navy in his street duel with Davis Tutt (Bates,Cumpston 2005).

[edit] Production

The Colt Dragoon Revolver was produced between 1848 and 1860, when the Colt Model 1860 revolver replaced it. The Dragoon was produced in three different types. The names were First Model, Second Model, and Third Model Dragoons. Government records showed an order for 8,390 Dragoons. The First Model Colt Dragoon Revolver has oval-shaped cylinder notches, a V-type mainspring and a squareback triggerguard. Colt produced about 7,000 first models between 1848 and 1850. The Second Model had rectangular notches. Until the no. 10 000 the V-shaped mainspring was standard and then replaced with a flat leaf mainspring. All the Second Model Dragoons had the squareback triggerguard. The company made about 2,550 Second Models in 1850 and '51. The Third Model Dragoon numbers stand at ten-thousand between 1851 through 1860. (Wilson 1984) This design had more variations as compared to its earlier counterparts. Some of the third model Colt Dragoon Revolvers had frame cuts for detachable shoulder stocks, horizontal loading lever latches and folding leaf sights. Third Colt Dragoon Revolvers had a round trigger guard. Other variants included the Colt "baby" Dragoon, used by Wells Fargo as a defensive weapon for their employees. With the addition of a loading lever this evolved into the 1849 pocket revolver (see Colt Pocket Percussion Revolvers)

The Dragoon was the large bore colt revolver until introduction of the 1860 Army Revolver- based on a Navy-sized frame rebated to accomidate a cylinder with .44-inch chambers. Well known users include Juaquin Murietta, the Californio resisitance fighter and/or bandit depending on perspective and Harriet Tubman of the Underground Railroad.

[edit] Present

The Dragoon is now collected and sold for prices that are very expensive.

Non-firing replicas of the Colt 1848 Dragoon were manufactured at Denix in Spain. In 2005, a fire burnt down the factory and destroyed the mould for the gun, which has since gone out of production, although some Colt Dragoon replicas still exist today at some sites around the internet.

Quality Replica Dragoons are currently produced by the Aldo Uberti Company of Brescia, Italy and distributed in the United States by Taylors, Inc.; Cimarron Arms Company,and others. They are quite accurate and potentially more powerful than the belt sized revolvers of the same bore diameter. Velocities with .451-457-inch round balls of approximately 141 grains over the full 50 grains of powder frequently show chronographed readings in the 1,000 to 1,100 foot per second range dempending upon the powder used(ibid Bates, Cumpston 2005).

Firing a Brace of Dragoons

[edit] References

<1.Bates, Johnny, Cumpston, Mike "Percussion Pistols and Revolvers, History, Performance and Practical use,Lincoln Nebraska, New York, London:iUniverse Publishers,2005/>

Books: Rifles and Pistols: By Jeremy Flack

http://www.hackman-adams.com/guns/ColtWalker.htm

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/CC/lnc1.html

http://www.uberti.com/firearms/dragoon.tpl

<3. Wilson, R.L. “Colt, An American Legend.” New York-London:Artabras, A division of Abbeville Publishing Group 1985/>