We were at the Wheaton Civil War show today. I was asked to look at an unusual 49 Colt. It was an original standard model, but like a few others I've seen over the years, it has a round dragoon barrel. So far, there's never been any documentation on Colts behalf on these, nor any conclusion by Colt experts as to their origins. I've often wondered if they're southern. They were quite found of dragoon style pistols - look at Leech&Rigdons and their contemporaries. Also there's this piece of history that suggests this might be a valid idea. John Slidell, the confederate diplomat to France(see the Trent Affair Nov 1861) had one of these as his personal side arm. It has a 5" round barrel with all the correct Colt markings and the back strap is engraved with his name. This pistol still exists. Is it possible an enterprising southern shop turned their inventory of 49's to round to make them more fashionable to southern clientele? GS