Pics of my Baby Dragoon

[apachejack]

Here are some pics of a baby dragoon I picked up along with the Navy. I love these guns, but I haven't heard of Dart on the bottom of the baby dragoon.

 

[Shawnee]

Hi Apachejack...

Where does the "Baby Dragoon" fit itno the Colt chronology ?

 

[BigG]

The baby was built in 1848 and almost immediately replaced by the 1849 pocket model, which has a round trigger guard.

 

[mykeal]

I've never seen one with a brass frame. Very unusual.

 

[StrawHat]

Apachejack,

Nice revolvers!

The italians seem to think that the brass frame is a plus as they have made a lot of them!

The pocket model Colts did come out in 1847-48 along with the Dragoons series of horse pistols.

The "Baby Dragoons" were one of the two series of Colts percussion revolvers that were offered in a variety of barrel lengths. The other being the Pocket Navy and Pocket Police series. Basically the "Baby Dragoons" in navy caliber.

I believe the "Baby Dragoons" were also the most prolific of all the Colts persussion revolvers but I do not have my books in front of me to confirm that.

 

[Shawnee]

Thanks Apache...

So the Baby Dragoon was sorta the "Grandpa" of the 1862 Police.

 

[BigG]

I thought the originals had the round bolt holes like the Walker. But I could be mistaken.

 

[scrat]

I own 2 brass frame revolvers myself. However i dont think i would get one in a dragoon. That is meant for steel. Hard to shoot big loads if your on a brass frame.

 

[BigG]

This is a picture of a real Colt Baby Dragoon for comparison. I think you got a pseudo 1849 pocket model with brass? frame.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

Strawhat, I agree with the word 'prolific' in reference to that model. I have read several times in different places that Colt produced and sold more of the 1849 .31 than any other model he made. I (like ya'll) have seen many pictures of it with different barrel lengths....

 

[mykeal]

This gun is more reminiscent of an 1849 Hartford Pocket Model than a Baby Dragoon based on the 5 1/2" barrel and loading lever; I'm assuming it's a .31 caliber, not a .36. Colt made some 325,000 Hartfords between 1850 and 1873. I don't believe any of Colt's pocket models had brass frames, however.

The DART stamp is most interesting. I've heard of them but can't recall where at the moment.

 

[StrawHat]

BigG I thought the originals had the round bolt holes like the Walker.

Some of the early ones did, but as manufacturing techniques changed, the new modifications spread to all the models.

I believe some of the early italian babies also had the round bolt hole.

Shawnee So the Baby Dragoon was sorta the "Grandpa" of the 1862 Police.

Exactly, the same changes Colts incorporated into the Navy frame to produce the 1860 Model were used in the pocket frame to increase the caliber from 31 to 36.

BigG

I am so pleased to see that picture. A beautiful example. And the round bolt holes are evident on your example.

There are some that call the models without a loading assembly the "Wells Fargo" models but there is no documentation to prove or even suggest WF ever issued or even purchased the little Dragoons.

 

[apachejack]

Sorry I haven't gotten on here to reply to anything but health problems with my brother has kept me busy. As far as the baby dragoons and my research on them, Colt made about 15,500 of them between 1847 and 1850. Some had loading levers but most were made without them. The frame, hammer, and loading were case colored and the barrel and cylinder were blued. The grip frame and trigger guard were silver plated brass. The first 10,000 guns have the Texas Ranger/Indian roll-engraved scene on the cylinder. The later guns have a stagecoach holdup scene on the cylinder. I have not read anywhere about a baby dragoon that did not have a scene on the cylinder but that doesn't mean there aren't some out there. The pocket revolver did not have a scene and it looked like the baby dragoon but it had a round trigger guard. And this is the first replica of the gun I have seen with a brass frame. It is a real fun gun to shoot and have for the grandkids when they want to learn about the old west. If anyone can tell me about the DART name on the gun, I sure would like to know about that. Thanks to all for any info or input on the guns.

 

[BigG]

The pocket revolver did not have a scene and it looked like the baby dragoon but it had a round trigger guard.

If that refers to the 1849 Pocket Model, it did have a roll engraved stagecoach holdup scene, just like the brass dragoon you posted has. Usually you can still see the wagon wheel as it seems to be the boldest feature.