Colt Blackpowder Signature Series 3rd Model Dragoon

[BigG]

Does anybody know the skinny on these? This gun is unturned, in a gray Colt box with the signature series logo. The manual is black and purports to be from "Colt's Manufacturing Company."

This model has the silver plated backstrap with an engraved Saml Colt signature. The cylinder is fluted all the way back between each chamber. The bbl and cylinder are deep high polished blue, the frame and rammer are color cased.

What would be the top offer for this gun, which appears complete with all docs and the box, and is unturned.

Also, when was it manufactured? None of my documents mention this Signature Series as being a product of Colt.

Thank you for your help!

PS - it is a monster. Something akin to a Ruger Redhawk in size. !! But beautifully finished.

 

[dfariswheel]

The first modern issue of these Colt black powder guns were made in Italy by Uberti, shipped to the US and assembled and finished here.

I've heard that the actual work was done under contract by Iver Johnson for Colt.

The Signature series was again, rough manufactured by Uberti, but assembled and finished under license from Colt by the John Jovino company of New York.
These were produced during the 1990's.

So, while they ARE considered to be genuine Colt firearms, they were not actually built or finished in Hartford at the Colt plant.

As Colt's, values are considerably higher then any replica.

In this case it's a matter of the difference between a "replica" and a "reproduction".

Since the guns are considered to be Colt firearms, and the serial numbers picked up where they stopped in the 1860's, these are considered to be "reproductions".
In other words, they were "produced" by the original company that originally made them so they're "RE-productions of the original guns.

Other makes are "replicas".
They are NOT Colt firearms, and have nothing to do with Colt Firearms Company other than being copies of original Colt guns. Serial numbers do not follow Colt serial ranges.
These non-Colt guns are "replicas" of original guns.

In this case it's a fine distinction, but the prices of genuine Colt black powder firearms reflects the feelings about this.

Of the Colt modern black powder revolvers, the Walker and the Dragoons are the most expensive today.
This is reflected by prices these are selling for on the online gun auctions.

Yours is a less common variation of the Third Model Dragoon, so prices would likely be even higher than for a standard model.

How much it would bring depends on the market. Again, check pricing on the online gun auctions sites for guns that have sold.

 

[BigG]

Thank you, drariswheel!

I can't tell what variation most of the ads are selling, but they seem to be the common roll engraved cylinder, according to the pics.

I see some wildly varying values for these. I would think some of the higher numbers are overly optimistic.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I think there was one for sale here by normbal a while back. I know it was a Colt, not sure of the model though. He had a pair of them.

He's a great guy to deal with, you might want to drop him a line.

 

[Bad Flynch]

100% graded lists at $475.00, less for wear.

 

[BigG]

For those of you who are interested, there is a good History of the Colt Blackpowder Reproductions available at this URL:

History of the Colt Blackpowder Reproductions