Colt Dragoon Revolver

Colt Dragoon Revolver
Third Model Dragoon, U.S. Cavalry issued
Type	Revolver
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1848–60
Used by	U.S. and primarily, civilians also produced in London Armoury circa 1851–55, Australia
Production history
Designer	Samuel Colt
Designed	1848 through 1850
Manufacturer	Colt Firearms
Produced	c. 1848–1860
No. built	about 18,500 in U.S.A.
Variants	Walker Transitions, First and Second Models
Specifications
Weight	4 lb 4 ounces (1.9 kg)
Length	14.75 inches (375 mm)
Barrel length	7.5 inches (190 mm)
Caliber	.44 ball, revolver (.454 in., dia.)
Action	single-action
Muzzle velocity	850–1,100 feet per second depending on powder/projectile
Effective firing range	80 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 Regiment of Mounted Rifles. The revolver was also issued to the Army's "Dragoon" Regiments. 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 1860s, and was also used during the American Civil War.

The Colt Dragoon Revolver was produced with several variations between 1848 and 1860, when the Colt Model 1860 revolver replaced it. All the improvements in design of Colt revolvers were applied to the Dragoons as well to the smaller models of Colt revolvers. Total production of Colt Dragoons including the 1,100 Walkers, from 1847 to 1860: 19,800; plus 750 Dragoons in a separate number range for the British market. For collectors, there are three different types.

Between the Walker and the First model Dragoon, around 240 improved models were produced, barrel length 7 1/2 inch, cylinder 2 3/16 inch. Their general appearance was to that of the production Dragoon models. These were produced between late in 1847 and 1848, serial number range approximately 1100 (the last civilian Walker) through about 1340 (the first Dragoon First Model). These sometimes called "Transition Walker" revolvers were made in two frame variations, the earlier pattern was a Walker carry-over with a cut-out in the back to accommodate the round contour of the grips and the second was straight-backed. Another distinctive detail were the very slender "Slim Jim" grips.

The First Model Colt Dragoon Revolver has oval-shaped cylinder notches, a V-type mainspring, no wheel on the rear of the hammer, no pins between the nipples on the cylinder and a squareback trigger guard. Colt produced about 7,000 first models between 1848 and 1850.

The Second Model has rectangular cylinder notches. Until the no. 10,000 the V-shaped mainspring was standard and then replaced with a flat leaf mainspring and a wheel on the hammer at its bearing on the mainspring. All the Second Model Dragoons have the squareback trigger guard. The company made about 2,550 Second Models in 1850 and '51.

The Third Model Dragoon numbers stand at ten-thousand from 1851 through 1860. 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. Government records showed an order for 8,390 Dragoons.