Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon
Colt's Manufacturing Company · Revolver · Discontinued · 1848
Also known as: Colt Baby Dragoon, Colt Model 1848 Pocket, Baby Dragoon
Overview
The Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon is a five-shot, .31 caliber single-action percussion revolver and Colt's first true pocket-sized handgun. A scaled-down civilian derivative of the massive .44 Colt Dragoon, it retained the Dragoon's square-backed trigger guard and spur hammer but weighed roughly a third as much, making it a highly concealable personal-defense arm. Fitted with an octagonal barrel offered in 3, 4, 5 and 6 inch lengths and an unfluted cylinder, most were built without a loading lever. Though intended for the civilian market, many were pressed into service during the American Civil War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 624 g (22.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 241 mm (9.49") |
| Barrel Length | 127 mm (5.00") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 200 m/s (656 fps) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 5 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .31 Caliber Percussion (Cap and Ball) · primary — also known as .31 cal, .31 percussion, 7.9mm
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Cap And Ball Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Notch
- Features: Octagonal Barrel, Spur Trigger, Square Back Trigger Guard, Unfluted Cylinder
Service history
Operators
- United States
- Confederate States of America
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
- California Gold Rush (1848-1855)
Production
Estimated total produced: 15,500 · Production years: 1847-1850
Approximately 15,000-15,500 Baby Dragoons were produced at Colt's Hartford factory. It was the forerunner of the far more numerous Colt Model 1849 Pocket revolver.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Samuel Colt
Discontinued: 1850
Notes
The Baby Dragoon was the direct forerunner of the enormously successful Colt Model 1849 Pocket, which added a hinged loading lever and increased capacity options. Early examples lacked an attached loading lever, requiring a separate loading tool.
Background
Introduced amid the California Gold Rush, the Baby Dragoon gave prospectors and travelers a genuine Colt revolver small enough to carry in a coat pocket. Its commercial success convinced Samuel Colt that a compact pocket revolver could outsell his heavy military horse pistols, leading directly to the record-setting Model 1849 Pocket.