Colt Dragoon
Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company · Revolver · Discontinued · 1848
Also known as: Colt Model 1848 Dragoon, Colt Model 1848 Percussion Army Revolver, Dragoon Revolver
Overview
The Colt Dragoon is a .44 caliber, six-shot single-action percussion revolver designed by Samuel Colt and introduced in 1848. A refinement of the massive Colt Walker, it was lightened and shortened for cavalry use by the U.S. Army's mounted Dragoon regiments. Produced in First, Second, and Third Models through 1860, the heavy cap-and-ball revolver saw extensive frontier and American Civil War service and remained one of the most powerful handguns of its era.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1900 g (67.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 375 mm (14.76") |
| Barrel Length | 190 mm (7.48") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 259 m/s (850 fps) |
| Effective Range | 75 m (82 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Caliber Percussion · primary — also known as .44 cal, .454 round ball, .44 ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Notches
- Features: Percussion Cap Ignition, Six Shot Cylinder, Loading Lever, Open Top Frame, Brass Trigger Guard, Optional Shoulder Stock
Variants
- Colt Second Model Dragoon — Model
- Colt Third Model Dragoon — Model
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1848
- Confederate States Army
Conflicts
- American Indian Wars (1848-1865)
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Estimated total produced: 19,000 · Production years: 1848-1860
Approximately 18,000-20,000 produced at Hartford, plus a small London Armory production run 1851-1855.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Samuel Colt
Discontinued: 1860
Notes
Cap-and-ball black powder revolver loaded with loose powder, ball, and percussion caps. Roughly 18,000 to 20,000 were produced at Colt's Hartford works, plus a small London Armory run from 1851 to 1855. The Third Model could mount a detachable shoulder stock.
Background
The Dragoon was Samuel Colt's answer to the unwieldy four-pound-plus Walker revolver: a slightly shorter, lighter, and more reliable design that helped re-establish Colt's failed firearms business after the 1847 Walker contract. Named for the U.S. mounted Dragoon regiments who carried it in saddle holsters, it became the standard heavy military sidearm of the late 1840s and 1850s and a symbol of the American frontier.