A. UBERTI S.p.A.

Samuel Colt began production of a revolving-cylinder pistol on the day the Alamo fell in 1836. Produced at his factory in Paterson New Jersey Colt’s new pistol was enthusiastically received by the Rangers of the newly independent Republic of Texas and in 1844 Colt’s pistol made history when sixteen Rangers held off 80 Comanche warriors with their new revolvers. Former Texas Ranger Sam Walker had been in the Comanche fight in 1844 and became a firm believer in Colt’s pistols. In 1846 war with Mexico was looming and Walker’s U.S. Mounted Rifles needed a powerful handgun for mounted combat. Colt built a revolver for them that held 58 grains of black powder and chambered six .44 caliber balls. Sam Walker ordered 1 000 of them and rode off to Mexico. The Walker’s massive fire-power needed a much stronger frame and larger overall gun design than earlier models the Walker weighed nearly four-and-a-half pounds and was 15¾” long. The Walker’s reputation assured Colt’s future success.

With an improved loading lever, shorter cylinder and lighter weight, the Dragoon was an improvement over the Colt Walker. Of the four Dragoon models, the first was manufactured for Colt by Eli Whitney. Small enhancements separate the four Dragoon models. The Whitneyville model is made like the original Walker but uses a dragoon barrel and cylinder, the 1st model uses oval cylinder bolt slots, the 2nd model uses squared cylinder bolt slots and the 3rd model incorporates a round trigger guard.

With an improved loading lever, shorter cylinder and lighter weight, the Dragoon was an improvement over the Colt Walker. Of the four Dragoon models, the first was manufactured for Colt by Eli Whitney. Small enhancements separate the four Dragoon models. The Whitneyville model is made like the original Walker but uses a dragoon barrel and cylinder, the 1st model uses oval cylinder bolt slots, the 2nd model uses squared cylinder bolt slots and the 3rd model incorporates a round trigger guard.

With an improved loading lever, shorter cylinder and lighter weight, the Dragoon was an improvement over the Colt Walker. Of the four Dragoon models, the first was manufactured for Colt by Eli Whitney. Small enhancements separate the four Dragoon models. The Whitneyville model is made like the original Walker but uses a dragoon barrel and cylinder, the 1st model uses oval cylinder bolt slots, the 2nd model uses squared cylinder bolt slots and the 3rd model incorporates a round trigger guard.

With an improved loading lever, shorter cylinder and lighter weight, the Dragoon was an improvement over the Colt Walker. Of the four Dragoon models, the first was manufactured for Colt by Eli Whitney. Small enhancements separate the four Dragoon models. The Whitneyville model is made like the original Walker but uses a dragoon barrel and cylinder, the 1st model uses oval cylinder bolt slots, the 2nd model uses squared cylinder bolt slots and the 3rd model incorporates a round trigger guard.

With an improved loading lever shorter cylinder and lighter weight the Dragoon was an improvement over the Colt Walker. Of the four Dragoon models the first was manufactured for Colt by Eli Whitney. Small enhancements separate the four Dragoon models. The Whitneyville model is made like the original Walker but uses a dragoon barrel and cylinder. The 1st model uses oval cylinder bolt slots. The 2nd model uses squared cylinder bolt slots and the 3rd model incorporates a round trigger guard.

With an improved loading lever shorter cylinder and lighter weight the Dragoon was an improvement over the Colt Walker. Of the four Dragoon models the first was manufactured for Colt by Eli Whitney. Small enhancements separate the four Dragoon models. The Whitneyville model is made like the original Walker but uses a dragoon barrel and cylinder. The 1st model uses oval cylinder bolt slots. The 2nd model uses squared cylinder bolt slots and the 3rd model incorporates a round trigger guard.

Encouraged by an ongoing military contract, Colt turned his eye toward the civilian marketin 1848. Civilian pocket revolvers, such as the Wells Fargo or 1849 Pocket, were .31 caliber pistols that fit easily in a coat pocket. Just as silver spring steel allowed Colt to adapt a .44 cylinder to a .36 frame, it permitted the .31 cal. 1849 Pocket revolver to be upgraded to a .36 cal. The 1862 Pocket Navy retains the octagon barrel and hinged loading lever of the 1851 Navy, while the 1862 Police model is a miniature of the 1860 Army, with fluted cylinder, streamlined round barrel and “creeping” loading lever. The Pocket and Police were the last two muzzle loading models to be produced by Colt and together they totalled approximately 47,000. About 19,000 were the model 1862 Pocket Navy.

Encouraged by an ongoing military contract, Colt turned his eye toward the civilian marketin 1848. Civilian pocket revolvers, such as the Wells Fargo or 1849 Pocket, were .31 caliber pistols that fit easily in a coat pocket. Just as silver spring steel allowed Colt to adapt a .44 cylinder to a .36 frame, it permitted the .31 cal. 1849 Pocket revolver to be upgraded to a .36 cal. The 1862 Pocket Navy retains the octagon barrel and hinged loading lever of the 1851 Navy, while the 1862 Police model is a miniature of the 1860 Army, with fluted cylinder, streamlined round barrel and “creeping” loading lever. The Pocket and Police were the last two muzzle loading models to be produced by Colt and together they totalled approximately 47,000. About 19,000 were the model 1862 Pocket Navy.