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, civiliansalso 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.

Production[edit]

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.^[1] For collectors, there are three different types.

Whitneyville Hartford Dragoon Revolver[edit]

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.

First Model[edit]

The First Model Colt Dragoon Revolver has oval 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.

Second Model[edit]

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.

Third Model[edit]

The Third Model Dragoon numbers stand at ten-thousand from 1851 through 1860.^[2] 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.^[1]

1848 Pocket Pistol[edit]

Other variants included the Colt “1848 Pocket Pistol” now known as the Baby Dragoon, marketed in California with success during the Gold Rush days. With the addition of a loading lever this evolved into the 1849 pocket revolver (see Colt Pocket Percussion Revolvers).^[1]

• 

  Colt Model of 1848 Holster Pistol (First Model Dragoon), squareback trigger guard, oval-shaped Cylinder Stops]
• 

  Colt Dragoon 1848 second model, squareback trigger guard
• 

  Colt Dragoon 3rd Model, Colt Baby Dragoon 1848 with squareback trigger guard
• 

  Dragoon bullets

Size[edit]

The Dragoon was produced because of the problems seen with the fielded Colt Walker 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), 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 7.5 inches (some later revolvers 8 inches) as compared to the 9 inches (230 mm) 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 made the Colt Dragoon Revolver 4 pounds two ounces. These changes also reduced the risks of the Colt Dragoon Revolver from exploding when fired, unlike the risk that had been demonstrated with the Walker revolvers.^[1]

Popularity[edit]

In the troublesome events that led to the 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, the California bandit, Charley Parkhurst, California teamster, James Douglas Byrd, Town Marshal, Watsonville, California, 1868, Tiburcio Vasquez, Californio bandit, Union general George B McClellan,^[3] probably Harriet Tubman of the Underground Railroad, and fictionally Augustus McCrae, in the novel Lonesome Dove, Mattie Ross in the novel True Grit and in the 2010 film version (the 1969 film of that name had Mattie Ross using a Colt Walker revolver, though John Wayne‘s character Rooster referred to it as a Colt’s Dragoon^[4]). Charley Parkhurst, while driving freight, was confronted by two bandits whom he dispatched with the Colt Holster Pistol. According to Harper’s Weekly, James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickok arrived in Springfield, Missouri carrying a Dragoon though it is generally accepted that he used a Navy in his street duel with Davis Tutt.^[5]

Present[edit]

Firing a brace of Dragoons

The Dragoon is now a collectible arm and sold for high prices.^[1]
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,and others.^[6] They are quite accurate and potentially more powerful than the belt sized revolvers of the same bore diameter. Velocities with .451-457-inch round balls of approximately 141 grains over the full 50 grains of powder frequently show chronographed readings in the 1,000 to 1,100 foot per second range depending upon the powder used.^[5]
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 2010 Coen Bros. movie as in the original book.

See also[edit]

• Colt Paterson
• Colt’s Manufacturing Company
• Colt Pocket Percussion Revolvers
• Colt Walker
• Colt 1851 Navy Revolver

References[edit]

4. Flack, Jeremy Rifles and Pistols Florida:Sunburst Books, 1995.

• A History of the Colt Revolver from 1836 to 194

The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company was a U.S. company formed in 1855 by partners Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson to develop Walter Hunt‘s Rocket Ball ammunition and lever action mechanism.
Volcanic made an improved version of the Rocket Ball ammunition, and a carbine and pistol version of the lever action gun to fire it.
While the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company was short lived, its descendants, Smith & Wesson and Winchester Repeating Arms Company, became major firearms manufacturers.

Volcanic Pocket Pistol

Volcanic rifle, 16 1/2 inch barrel

History

The original 1848 “Volition Repeating Rifle” design by Hunt was revolutionary, introducing an early iteration of the lever action repeating mechanism and the tubular magazine still common today.
However, Hunt’s design was far from perfect, and only a couple of prototypes were developed; the only one known is currently in the Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyoming.
Lewis Jennings patented an improved version of Hunt’s design in 1849, and versions of the Jenning’s patent design were built by Robbins & Lawrence Co. (under the direction of shop foreman Benjamin Tyler Henry) and sold by C. P. Dixon.
Horace Smith was also hired by Courtlandt Palmer to improve the Jennings Rifle, patenting the Smith-Jennings in 1851.
It is estimated that fewer than 2000 of these two models were made until 1852, when financial troubles ceased production.^[1][2]
In 1854, partners Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson joined with Courtlandt Palmer, the businessman who had purchased the Jennings and Smith-Jennings patent rights,^[3] and further improved on the operating mechanism, developing the Smith & Wesson Lever pistol, and a new Volcanic cartridge.
Production was in the shop of Horace Smith in Norwich, Connecticut. The new cartridge improved upon the Hunt Rocket Ball with the addition of a primer.
Originally using the name “Smith & Wesson Company”, the name was changed to “Volcanic Repeating Arms Company” in 1855, with the addition of new investors, one of which was Oliver Winchester.
The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company obtained all rights for the Volcanic designs (both rifle and pistol versions were in production by this time) as well as the ammunition, from the Smith & Wesson Company.
Wesson remained as plant manager for 8 months before rejoining Smith to found the “Smith & Wesson Revolver Company” upon obtaining the licensing of the Rollin White rear loading cylinder patent.
Winchester forced the insolvency of the Volcanic Arms Company in late 1856, took over ownership and moved the plant to New Haven, Connecticut, where it was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Company in April 1857.
B. Tyler Henry was hired as plant superintendent when Robbins & Lawrence suffered financial difficulties and Henry left their employ.
While continuing to make the Volcanic rifle and pistol, Henry began to experiment with the new rimfire ammunition, and modified the Volcanic lever action design to use it.
The result was the Henry rifle. By 1866, the company once again reorganized, this time as the Winchester Repeating Arms company, and the name of Winchester became synonymous with lever action rifles.^[2][4][5]

In popular culture

In a 2012 episode of Pawn Stars, titled “Bear-ly There”, a .41 caliber Volcanic Repeating Arms pistol was purchased by the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop for $6,500.^[6]
A Volcanic repeating rifle is featured in the western movie For a Few Dollars More and is used by the Man with No Nameand El Indio for a brief period of time.^[6]
The Volcanic pistol is available as a weapon in Activision‘s Gun and Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption. Under the name “Volcanic Pistol”, a Volcanic pistol appears in Techland’s Call of Juarez and Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood.
It is the most powerful handgun available in both games. The Western-themed card game Bang! also has a Volcanic; it has the shortest range of any gun, but compensates with the unique special ability to fire more than once per turn.^[7]
The Rider, the titular character of Edward M. Erdelac‘s Judeocentric Lovecraftian weird west series Merkabah Rider, carries a Volcanic pistol inlaid with gold and silver and bearing various Solomonic talismans and wards, including a jeweled Tree of Sephiroth on the handle.^[8]
An 1855 Volcanic pistol was featured during the Sons of Guns season 3 episode “World’s Largest Machine Gun” in 2012.^[9]
A Volcanic pistol appears as an unlockable item for the Shinsengumi agent in Total War: Shogun 2 and is available as a starter weapon in Fistful of Frags.^{[citation needed]}
A Volcanic pistol also appears in the PlayStation 2 game Gun.^[10]

• Examples of Volcanic Repeating Arms
• 

  A Smith & Wesson Volcanic pistol, c. 1855, in .31 caliber
• 

  The Jennings (top) and Volcanic (bottom) rifles
• 

  Volcanic pistol .41 caliber