Question about Colt Repro of 1st Model Drgoon

[elhombreconnonombre]

I have a line on a Colt made 1848 1st Model Dragoon (2nd Generation??) repro made several decades ago by Colt. (not a silver plated handgrip signature series Colt made repro). It is in new, perfect unfired condition in the Colt cardboard box. I think I can get it for $500. Are these collectable in their own right as Colts and I should keep it in unfired condition for posterity and value appreciation. If not I was thinking doing a mild surface antiquing job on it using birch casey and vinegar as others have done. Since the markings appear nearly identical to an original with the exception of the serial number, minimal defarbing would be needed as would be required on an Italian repro.

 

[CraigC]

That's a great price and I would certainly take one home for that. They're nice guns with real case colors but a couple of gunsmiths have said that they're not really much better than modern Uberti guns. They're treated as if they are collectible but their appreciation has been minimal. IMHO, it's a $500 gun, like any other. It won't appreciate enough to make it worthwhile in your lifetime.

 

[Crawdad1]

I agree with CraigC, minimal appreciation over the years but that is a good price on a second generation Dragoon. Why would you need to defarb it? And pleeeeeease don't say "To get rid of the proof mark" because there ain't no proof mark on it.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Don't want to defarb it, just make it look older. I know...if I shoot a 1000 rounds out of if and clean it every trip to the range that will give it nearly an antique finish as a genuine one, but I like em looking old right out of the box as a conversation piece.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

I think a few of the 3rd model original dragoons had a notch on the bottom on the grip to attach a shoulder stock like some 1851 Navys and 1860 Armys. I have a repro stock that fits both a Pietta 1851 and Pietta Remmie fantasy 1858 Buffalo/Bison. While I know the frame of the Walkers and Dragoons are wider than the 1851 or 1858, my measurements indicate that only a small amount of material would have to be removed from the brass of the stock to allow it to be used on a Walker, Dragoon, etc. and it would still fit the smaller frames. I would obviously need a longer hammer screw which is a doable. I came up with an idea that would even eliminate the need to cut a groove in the bottom of the actual grip for the "hook". I would machine a piece of brass stock that would screw on to the bottom of the existing brass grip and machine a "hook" notch in that piece.
While the use of such detachable shoulder stocks are not really authentic on most models of these revolvers, real or repro, they truly do add an element of versatility to the shooting experience, plus they are fun to show off at the range.

 

[mykeal]

Let me get this right - you want to go to all the trouble of antiquing a 2nd Gen Colt to make it look "authentic" and then modify it to add a shoulder stock to make it obviously not authentic.

 

[Fingers McGee]

$500 for a NIB 2nd Gen Dragoon is a decent price. Only the original 3rd Model Dragoons had the 4 screw frame and cut for the shoulder stock. The repro shoulder stocks for the 1851, 1860 and Remington are not only not wide enough; but are not long enough to reach from the cut recoil sheild to the back of the grip frame. It would be a complicated project to modify a stock and the pistol to accept one.

As an alternative, ASM made some 3rd model dragoons cut for the stock and with the 3 leaf rear sight. They show up on GunBroker from time to time.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

mykeal
I just want to do a moderate antiguing job and shoot it as a sidearm. I just like the versatility afforded by stock. You and I both know that the average shooter at the range would not know the difference between a repro, original, or a fantasy item.

fingers
I don't know if those ASM 3rd model Dragoons are super accurate or made of solid platinum, but the last one I saw for sale at auction, they wanted $1,300. It had a stock with steel not brass hardware. He said the last steel ASM stock he saw went for $1,000 for the stock alone. He said the ASM brass hardware stocks went for $600. I know ASM is long gone, but a $1,000 stock on a $300 out of production repro c&b revolver....really???
The stocks from Dixie go for near $300. Maybe I should go into the stock biz.