The Colt Model 1848 Percussion Army Revolver is a .44 caliber revolver designed by

Samuel Colt Samuel Colt (; July 19, 1814 – January 10, 1862) was an American inventor, industrialist, and businessman who established Colt's Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company and made the mass production of revolvers commercially viable. Col ...

for the U.S. Army's Regiment of Mounted Rifles. The revolver was also issued to the Army's "

Dragoon Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat wi ...

" regiments. This revolver was designed as a solution to numerous problems encountered with the

Colt Walker The Colt Walker, sometimes known as the Walker Colt, is a single-action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six charges of black powder behind six bullets (typically .44 caliber lead balls). It was designed in 1846 by American firearms in ...

. Although it was introduced after the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

, it became popular among civilians during the 1850s and 1860s and was also used during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

Production

The Colt Dragoon Revolver was produced with several variations between 1847 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 with one "transition" model.

Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon Revolver

Between the Walker and the First model Dragoon, around 240 improved "Whitneyville Dragoons" or "Transitional Dragoons" were produced at the Eli Whitney factory for Colt, having a barrel length of and a cylinder diameter of . The cylinder, shorter than the Walker, retained oval cutouts for the bolt. Their general appearance was similar 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 are sometimes called "Transitional Dragoon" revolvers, and 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. Note: Due to serial number gaps between the "Transition" model and the First Dragoon, which Colt later "backfilled", as well as the details of the production and delivery of the Second Government Contract, the "fluck Dragoon" was erroneously derived.

First Model

The First Model Colt Dragoon Revolver production began in 1848, stemming from Colt's Second Government Contract. It has rectangular cylinder stops, a V-type mainspring, no wheel on the rear of the hammer, and a square back trigger guard. Colt produced about 7,000 first models between 1848 and 1850.

Second Model

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 square back trigger guard. The company made about 2,550 Second Models in 1850 and 1851.

Third Model

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.

1848 Pocket Pistol

Other variants included the Colt "1848 Pocket Pistol" now known as the Baby Dragoon, marketed in California with success during the

Gold rush A gold rush or gold fever is a discovery of gold—sometimes accompanied by other precious metals and rare-earth minerals—that brings an onrush of miners seeking their fortune. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, ...

days. With the addition of a loading lever this evolved into the 1849 pocket revolver (see Colt Pocket Percussion Revolvers). File:Colt Dragoon 1st Model.jpg, Colt Model of 1848 Holster Pistol (First Model Dragoon), square back trigger guard, oval-shaped Cylinder Stops] File:Colt Dragoon 2nd Mod 1848.JPG, Colt Dragoon 1848 second model, square back trigger guard File:Dragoon Baby Dragoon.jpg, Colt Dragoon 3rd Model, Colt Baby Dragoon 1848 with square back trigger guard File:Dragoon bullets.jpg, Dragoon bullets File:Lincolns-guns-gifted to abdelkader.jpg, A pair of Colt 1848 Dragoon sent by

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

Emir Abdelkader Abd al-Qadir ibn Muhyi al-Din (6 September 1808 – 26 May 1883; '), known as the Emir Abdelkader or Abd al-Qadir al-Hassani al-Jaza'iri, was an Algerian religious and military leader who led a struggle against the French colonial invasion of ...

for having protected Christians in the

1860 Mount Lebanon civil war The 1860 civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus, also known as the 1860 Christian–Druze war, was a civil conflict in Mount Lebanon during Ottoman rule in 1860–1861 fought mainly between the local Druze and Christians. Following decisiv ...

Size

The Dragoon was produced because of the problems seen with the fielded

revolvers, namely, the Walker's heavy weight, four and a half pounds, making it suitable only for use as a saddle-mounted revolver, the Walker's propensity for cylinders exploding on occasion when fired (due to the chambers being loaded with too much powder often in combination with the Pickett bullets being loaded backwards), and the Walker's habit of dropping the loading lever upon discharge, locking up the revolver action in the middle of combat. The Colt Dragoon Revolver had a comparatively shorter cylinder (thus preventing overloading the cylinder) and held up to 50 grains of powder, whereas the Walker had used up to 60 grains of powder. The Dragoon Revolver had a shorter barrel at (and on some later revolvers, ) as compared to the barrel on the Walker. A loading lever latch in front of the lever replaced the spring to keep the lever from dropping during recoil, thereby preventing jamming of the revolver. These variations gave the Colt Dragoon Revolver a weight of . These changes also reduced the risk of the Colt Dragoon Revolver exploding when fired, obviating the risk that had been demonstrated with the Walker revolvers.

Popularity

In the events that led to the American Civil War, Colt Dragoons became extremely popular. In the beginning Colt Dragoon Revolvers 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

Joaquin Murietta Joaquin Murrieta Carrillo (sometimes misspelled Murieta or Murietta) (c. 1829 – July 25, 1853), also called the Robin Hood of the West or the Robin Hood of El Dorado, was a Mexican figure of disputed historicity. The novel '' The Life and Ad ...

, the California bandit,

Charley Parkhurst Charley Darkey Parkhurst (born Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst; January 17, 1812 – December 28, 1879) also known as "One-Eyed Charley" or "Six-Horse Charley", was an American stagecoach driver, farmer and rancher in California. Raised in New Englan ...

, California teamster and stagecoach driver, James Douglas Byrd, Town Marshal, Watsonville, California, 1868,

Tiburcio Vasquez Tiburcio, the Spanish form of Tiburtius, may refer to: * Tiburcio Carías Andino (1876–1969), Honduran military strongman * Tiburcio de León, Filipino general (the Philippine Revolution and Philippine-American War) * José Tiburcio Serrizuela ...

, Union general

George B McClellan George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 24th governor of New Jersey and as Commanding General of the United States Army from November 1861 to March 186 ...

, and fictional

Augustus McCrae The ''Lonesome Dove'' series is a series of four Western fiction novels written by Larry McMurtry and the five television miniseries and television series based upon them. Overview The novels and miniseries follow the exploits of several members ...

, in the novel ''

Lonesome Dove ''Lonesome Dove'' is a 1985 Western novel by American writer Larry McMurtry. It is the first published book of the ''Lonesome Dove'' series and the third installment in the series chronologically. It was a bestseller and won the 1986 Pulit ...

'', Mattie Ross in the novel '' True Grit'' and in the 2010 film (including the 1969 film of the same name) had Mattie Ross using a Colt Walker revolver, though

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

's character Rooster referred to it as a Colt's Dragoon. Charley Parkhurst, while driving freight, was confronted by two bandits whom he/she shot with the Colt Holster Pistol. According to ''Harper's Weekly'', James Butler (

Wild Bill Hickok James Butler Hickok (May 27, 1837August 2, 1876), better known as "Wild Bill" Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West known for his life on the frontier as a soldier, reconnaissance, scout, lawman, cattle rustler, gunslinger, gambler, s ...

) arrived in Springfield, Missouri carrying a Dragoon though it is generally accepted that he used a

Colt 1851 Navy Revolver The Colt Revolving Belt Pistol or Navy Pistol, sometimes erroneously referred to as "Colt Revolving Belt Pistol of Naval Caliber" or "of Navy Caliber" (Naval is heavy gun and Navy Size Caliber was termed later for another Colt model), is a .36 ...

in his street duel with

Davis Tutt Davis Kasey Tutt (c. 1836 – July 21, 1865) was an American Old West gambler and former soldier, best remembered for being killed during the Wild Bill Hickok – Davis Tutt shootout of 1865, which launched Wild Bill Hickok to fame as a gunfight ...

Present

The Dragoon is now a collectible arm and sells for high prices. Non-firing replicas of the Colt 1848 Dragoon were manufactured at Denix in Spain. In 2005, a fire burned down the factory and destroyed the mold for the gun, which has since gone out of production. Denix has since reintroduced the non-firing model of the Colt 1848 Dragoon in nickel. Quality replica Dragoons are currently produced by the Aldo Uberti Company of Brescia, Italy and distributed in the United States by Taylors, Inc.;

Cimarron Firearms Cimarron Firearms is an American firearms importer that has been in operation since 1984. The company's field of specialty is reproduction firearms from the American Civil War to the end of the Old West period. Founded by Mike Harvey in Houston ...

, and others. They are quite accurate and potentially more powerful than the belt sized revolvers of the same bore diameter. Velocities with round balls of approximately 141 grains over the full 50 grains of powder frequently show chronographed readings in the range of , depending upon the powder used. A cartridge-converted Colt Walker instead of the Colt Dragoon in the book was used in the 1969 film '' True Grit'', as the weapon carried by 14-year-old Mattie, possibly due to the Walker's larger size. The Dragoon was used in the True Grit (2010) as in the original book. In

, by

Larry McMurtry Larry Jeff McMurtry (June 3, 1936March 25, 2021) was an American novelist, essayist, and screenwriter whose work was predominantly set in either the Old West or contemporary Texas.

, Captain Gus McCrae is armed with a Colt's Dragoon revolver. In the television adaptation, Gus is armed with a cartridge-converted Colt's Walker revolver.

References

External links

The Colt Revolver in the American West—Cutaway Second Model Dragoon

The Colt Revolver in the American West—Experimental Third Model Dragoon
{{USCWWeapons Colt revolvers American Civil War weapons 1848 introductions Revolvers of the United States Single-action revolvers Early revolvers Guns of the American West Black-powder pistols Military revolvers Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1848 California Gold Rush