Colt Model 1848 Baby Dragoon percussion revolver s/n 9002 manufactured circa l849 with the desirable six inch barrel, five shot cylinder and short frame.

It has the two-line, right-handed address: ‘ADDRESS SAML COLT/NEW YORK CITY’ with a dash at either end. On the left side of the frame is stamped minutely COLTS/PATENT. The cylinder scene portrays a part of the Texas Ranger and Indian fight scene, as was roll-engraved on the 44 calibre Dragoons.  

It has a blued barrel and cylinder with casehardened frame, hammer and lever. The brass back-strap and square-back trigger-guard are silver-plated. The one-piece grips are made of varnished walnut.

Serial number 9002 is without a loading lever and does not have loading cutout on the right side of the barrel lug. The stops which index to align perfectly the cylinder to the barrel are slightly oval.   

All matching numbers including the wedge. Overall in good working order and mechanically very good.   

The five-shot Baby Dragoon in .31 caliber was a scaled down version of the large dragoon revolvers but lacking a loading lever. It was the first pocket model to be made at Colt’s Hartford factory. It came in barrel lengths of 3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″ and is distinctive with its square-back trigger-guard.

For in-depth reference on the Colt Baby Dragoon revolvers see ‘Colt’s Pocket ’49, it’s Evolution, including the Baby Dragoon & Wells Fargo’ by Robert M. Jordan & Darrow M. Watt.