VERY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED SQUAREBACK COLT LONDON 2ND MODEL DRAGOON REVOLVER

VERY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED SQUAREBACK COLT LONDON 2ND MODEL DRAGOON REVOLVER

01-24547
Cal. 44
S# 180

At the beginning of the Civil War Colt revolvers were in great demand. Colt’s London office had dragoons still in inventory and most were shipped back to America to meet the tremendous demand caused by the war. Colt factory letter states this gun was shipped to Joseph Grubb of Philadelphia with 66 other revolvers. Factory letter states it was factory engraved and shipped September 2, 1861. There are Grubb shipped guns with known Confederate identification & use probably sold through agents in St. Louis and other western cities accessible to Confederate agents early in the war. There are no more then one or two other examples of factory engraved squareback 2nd model London dragoons. Larry Wilson in his book “Colt Engraving” show serial number 159 in same configuration as this revolver from Lewis Yearout collection, Wilson states concerning S# 159: “The second model is an extreme rarity”. Almost all London Colt revolvers had “LONDON” address with exception of the handful of Hartford-London dragoons which are marked with New York City address such as the example.

Standard configuration, 7.5″ octagon to round barrel, German silver front sight 1-line New York City address, characteristic sparse tight London scroll engraving on frame, recoil shields, hammer, barrel lug, rammer pivot, backstrap, and trigger guard. “COLT’S PATENT” engraved on left side of frame. Small English proofs observed on barrel and each cylinder chamber. This revolver no doubt saw used during the Civil War but it’s still a sharp honest survivor.
UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of Colt factory letter and copy of Herb Glass description in 2001 Gun Report.
CONDITION: good to very good overall, no finish remains but fairly sharp edges with scattered dings and dents, holster wear at muzzle. No cylinder scene remains but matching S# 180 is sharp. Revolver is complete, matching throughout with exception of replaced wedge and hammer screw which are excellent restorations. Backstrap and trigger guard retain strong areas of original silver plate in protected areas. The fancy burl walnut grips retain about half of their original factory varnish. Mechanically revolver is fine, crisp rifled bore.

PROVENANCE: Herb Glass sold this revolver which is pictured in his July 2001 Gun Report ad, William C. Myers collection.

STATUS: ANTIQUE