New to me Colt Baby Dragoon Gen 2

I picked this used 3rd Gen Colt 1849 up at a local Blackpowder store. ***Correction, it’s a 2nd Gen Colt Baby Dragoon***

Sure it’s an Uberti, but the fit and finish is awesome. Nickel plating is not flaking or pitted like some of the third generation horror stories you read about.

It has a some handling dings and it looks like someone didn’t exactly put it back together correctly. The Uberti trigger guards and grip back strap have some spring to them. If you don’t screw them back on correctly you end up with gaps with the frame. I rectified that at the shop.

If it was ever fired, it was seldom and meticulously cleaned.

$425.00 out the door, so about the same or a little bit more than a new Uberti with tax and shipping.

Only flaw (for some reason I didn’t spot at the store) is someone did some work on the Arbor. It looks like some one drilled out and fixed a loose arbor. Oh well, that bad and good, I could have talked the guy down some if I had noticed this . However now the arbor is nice and tight and doesn’t have a gap.

Only thing weird about this revolver is there is no engraved Sam Colt signature on the back strap and I can’t seem to find the serial number in any online look ups.

Is it an F Series put together by Iver Johnson?

They didn't have the Colt signature

Could someone have damaged the arbor loading the gun with it ? Just a thought.

The F series will still letter as a Colt, the Signature Series do not

The grip frame should be silver plate.

I have an F series Pocket Navy that looks like someone used it as a glove box gun

Stantheman86 said:

Is it an F Series put together by Iver Johnson?

They didn't have the Colt signature

Could someone have damaged the arbor loading the gun with it ? Just a thought.

The F series will still letter as a Colt, the Signature Series do not

The grip frame should be silver plate.

I have an F series Pocket Navy that looks like someone used it as a glove box gun

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The grip frame and trigger guard is nickel plated.

It’s a 2nd Generation Baby Dragoon. A Colt Made Revolver. I guess we can haggle over that, but it was made to Colts specs, under Colts QC supervision etc etc. it’s a Colt in my book. Not in the same level as the first Gen, but way better than the Italian copies.

I did ok on this deal. I saved a couple of shekels compared to what has sold on gunbroker. Considering the arbor repair. It was a fair deal all the way around.

My serial number is in range and almost one of the last ones made.

BatBoy said:

It’s a 2nd Generation Baby Dragoon. A Colt Made Revolver. I guess we can haggle over that, but it was made to Colts specs, under Colts QC supervision etc etc. it’s a Colt in my book. Not in the same level as the first Gen, but way better than the Italian copies.

I did ok on this deal. I saved a couple of shekels compared to what has sold on gunbroker. Considering the arbor repair. It was a fair deal all the way around.

My serial number is in range and almost one of the last ones made.

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The 2nd Gens will letter as a Colt, the C series were Uberti raw parts fitted and finished by Colt employees, at the factory and the F series were Uberti parts fitted and finished by Iver Johnson. Both are technically a Colt as per the serial number. Apparently some of the guns were Armi San Marco parts but that is probably the F series.

Colt was not satisfied with the Signature Series and they don't letter as a Colt.

I have a C series 1851 Navy and the fitting is much better than my F series 3rd Model Dragoon and Pocket Navy.

If you say it's Nickel then it's nickel, but the original "Civilian " model Colts such as the Navy and .31's had a Silver plated brass grip frame. It was always thought the 2nd Gens had the same Silver plate grip frame but I have no way to test the metal on mine and it's not that important. It may be nickel , unless someone with more knowledge chimes in we won't know.

$425 is a good deal for that, they won't ever make any more 2nd Gen Colts and we can own them, and shoot them and say they're the real deal. and they are a Colt according to Colt themselves. The C series are worth more because Colt actually assembled them.

At the end of the day, they are basically Uberti kit guns that Colt , or Iver Johnson finished but they're still cool and a Colt is a Colt.

Stantheman86 said:

The 2nd Gens will letter as a Colt, the C series were Uberti raw parts fitted and finished by Colt employees, at the factory and the F series were Uberti parts fitted and finished by Iver Johnson. Both are technically a Colt as per the serial number. Apparently some of the guns were Armi San Marco parts but that is probably the F series.

Colt was not satisfied with the Signature Series and they don't letter as a Colt.

I have a C series 1851 Navy and the fitting is much better than my F series 3rd Model Dragoon and Pocket Navy.

If you say it's Nickel then it's nickel, but the original "Civilian " model Colts such as the Navy and .31's had a Silver plated brass grip frame. It was always thought the 2nd Gens had the same Silver plate grip frame but I have no way to test the metal on mine and it's not that important. It may be nickel , unless someone with more knowledge chimes in we won't know.

$425 is a good deal for that, they won't ever make any more 2nd Gen Colts and we can own them, and shoot them and say they're the real deal. and they are a Colt according to Colt themselves. The C series are worth more because Colt actually assembled them.

At the end of the day, they are basically Uberti kit guns that Colt , or Iver Johnson finished but they're still cool and a Colt is a Colt.

Click to expand...

I’ve read they are nickel and wouldn’t silver tarnish? The metal on this Baby Dragoon is shiny. I’m saying Nickel. However, I’m no expert.

The story behind these is interesting, to say the least.

There was basically one guy who got the ball rolling on these and going from memory, he was the owner of Iver Johnson and formed the Colt Blackpowder Company, who assembled the 3rd Gen Colts into the early 2000s.

I also remember back in the late 90s or so when Remington wanted a piece of this market and was going to market an 1858 Remington made totally in house, but it never happened.

The C series guns are held in a way higher regard with collectors but if you plan to shoot them, it doesn't really matter. Only mint in box, unturned examples bring high prices anyway and people aren't really beating down doors for these. I paid $800 for my C Series, high condition but fired, in box with all the papers 1851 Navy and about the same for my F Series Dragoon which was probably too much but I like it. It looks like someone dropped the cylinder and beat on the wedge with metal, and dry fired it to the point where caps don't fit, but I'll tweak it and make it a shooter. If people ask if it's a repro I can tell them no , it's a Colt. It doesn't matter if Iver Johnson assembled it.



The C series Navy is honestly identical in fit and finish to my Uberti London Navy. But, it's a Colt and was assembled by Colt employees. I'm definitely going to fire it a few times, because it's been fired but it will be something that goes to the range in a case and won't see the inside of a holster. Then probably a display case. If I want to shoot a Navy I have other ones.



The F series Pocket Navy is definitely a shooter, I've even conceal carried it. It's super accurate at 25 yards .



What we're paying for is this....



Because no one else can put COLT on a gun and never will again, on a percussion revolver.

Also, the Colts have the period style rifling



Vs the regular Uberti guns like this



Most people don't care but it's neat