^Lot 4066 VERY FINE & RARE EARLY CASED COLT BABY DRAGOON

REVOLVER. Cal. 31. S# 122. The baby dragoon was the first revolver made by Colt after Paterson production ended and this is the finest example known of this earliest production. Earliest features include left hand address, highest S# with left hand address is 767. Earliest hammer with long hand filed knurling, & earliest hammer face with drilled hole to accept the tiny safety pin on back of cylinder, highest S# with this feature is 415. Revolver was made in 1848 with longest 6" barrel, 5-shot cylinder with "Dragoon & Indian Fight" rolled scene with small 1-line "COLT'S PATENT" stamped before S#, a single tiny safety pin is still crisp and rarely seen as so fragile and changed early to larger diameter pin with slotted hammer to fit. Case hardened frame has earliest "COLT'S / PATENT" marking with apostrophe. Brass back strap & trigger guard are silver plated and hold 1-piece walnut grips. Revolver is housed in an original Colt beveled Paterson style case fitted for pistol, 2-cavity brass "COLT'S PATENT" mold, "COLT'S PATENT" double sided eagle & arms flask, yellow label COLT PISTOL cap tin, nipple wrench, & cartridge pack. This is by far the finest early 1848 baby dragoon with early features. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: pertinent pages from Jordon & Watt's text "Colt's Pocket '49, its Evolution including the Baby Dragoon" showing this revolver. CONDITION: excellent overall, complete & matching, crisp markings. Revolver retains 80%+ original blue & muted case color, cylinder has complete cylinder, complete functional single safety pin, grips are fine, grip frame retains strong traces of silver wash. Mechanics are fine, bright rifled bore. Casing is fine overall, flask retains most of its original varnish, mold is fine. PROVENANCE: Martin Lane Lifelong collection. (01-28173/JS). ANTIQUE. $25,000-45,000.