I got a line on a well used/somewhat abused 2nd Gen Dragoon

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elhombreconnonombre

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It's dinged and scratched with holster wear from decades of CAS/reenactment use. I'm going to selectively strip it with vinegar and antique it with a plum brown rust finish. I will likely get Bill of billscases to make me an antiqued and well used-looking Honduran mahogony Dragoon presentation case complete with antique cardboard paper cartridge boxes and antiqued Eley cap tins. I already have acquired some ancient fulminate of mercury percussion caps for the tins, appropriately oxidized lead rb and conicals, a 2nd Gen Walker/Dragoon flask, nipple wrench, and brass handled bullet mold w/ steel sprue cutter. All put together it should make a pretty nice display piece.
 
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Sounds interesting. Before and after photos would be nice. Is this going to be your winter project?:cool:
 
DD
Perhaps a Christmas gift for myself, if I can get it all together by then. Getting all the appropriate 2nd Gen accoutrements is not difficult, but can get pricey. Some of the folks over at the coltforum have suggested that a genuine 19th century all steel 44 cal bullet mold would be cheaper than getting a 2nd Gen brass/steel .44 cal bullet mold. A pard over there graciously offered me a Walker/Dragoon flask and 2nd Gen cap tin for the project. Bill of billscases offered his services to make me an antiqued pesentation case with all the warts and dings, both inside and outside, expected in a 165 y.o. wooden case. His antiqued cases are amazing and only experts specializing in Colt's presentation cases could tell the difference between a period made case and his antiqued cases.
Now I just need to find a facsimile of Sam's business card to finish off the impression. I also already have a custom civilian Dragoon belt holster to add to it.
 
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I always run a search on ebay for antiqued black powder stuff and usually things turn up that will add to your display. Maybe some other on line auction sites can reduce your search a little. But that sounds like an interesting project.

I have two 3rd generation Colts in glass display cases, a '62 Police and a '49 Pocket, that I'm always on the look out for antique stuff to increase the display. I don't shoot them as they're just to damn nice to shoot.
 
Crawdaddy
Thats what makes this project so cool. Eventually I will go to the range and light off a few full loads with my ASM Walker and Le Mat, then when everyone comes over to check out what I am up to, I pull the cased antiqued Dragoon out of an old gunny sack, cap it and blast away with some 50 grain loads. Ha ha ha...madeth you look.;)
 
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That sounds like an awesome project! Pics would be great if you can post some of what you do. It this a 3rd model Dragoon?
 
Dragoons, they are fearsome lookin creatures!!! :evil:


Elhombre, you got to post some pics.

I for one could use some pointers on how to set up a proper display. I have a few things but I'm always looking for more stuff and ideas. :)
 
If I had a choice it would have been a 3rd model Dragoon with a shoulder stock like one of the British explorers that discovered the source of the Nile in Africa owned and who was reportedly an agent for the British during the ACW, but ya dance with the gal ya brought, in my case a 1st model Dragoon. Actually this being my first 2nd Gen shooter, did Colt make 2nd Gen 3rd model Dragoons with the recoil shield cut for a stock and a 4th frame screw, and a shoulder stock? I know ASM did, and I have lost out on a couple at auction on that model, but they did not have Colt's markings like my ASM Walker.

The fellers at the coltforum.com are pretty cool and helpful.

Checkout presentation cases at www.billscases.com.

Well, I'm off to the pawn shop to check out that original Remington NMA I came across last week and get some pics for you fellers to comment on.
 
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Interesting to note how a box of paper cartridges were carried out in the field. In a coat pocket or in the horse's saddle bags? I mean the gunbelts of the day would not have the lopes so often found on later western gunbelts but possibly an attached leather pouch?
 
Elhombre, a real box would be great for display especially involving a second generation Colt. Though I've never tried rolling my own that would be a good project to increase the authenticity of the display.


While hunting I normally don't go traditional but I'm more into durability and price. I bought a whole bunch of stuff from the Army/Navy stores close to here and a flap holster from TOW. I'm not much into the paper cartridges but use the loose powder and ball carried in my leather powder flask and a canvas pouch.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=192716&d=1387812945


Its comfortable especially in the summer varmint hunting while fighting the sweat rolling into your eyes and bugs biting the heck out of you and the occasional tick that latches on to you like a pair of vise-grips.
 
Waiting for pictures of refinished firearm and new case.
 
The original 2nd Gen 1st model Dragoon and a sibling Dragoon were originally purchased for shooting 35 years ago. The sibling is MIA. Otherwise I would definitely be considering commisioning Bill to build me an antiqued case like this one. It will continue to be a shooter. Pic is from a late 1950s Jackson Arms auction catalogue (Dallas, TX).
 

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I have been working on some test refinishing on a Pietta 1858 as a "test mule". Rather than a full strip of the blued surfaces by a full soaking in vinegar or use of a BC product, I am considering mixing the vinegar with some glycerine to keep the vinegar in contact with specific portions of the barrel and cylinder to remove a thin layer of the bluing rather than all of it, followed by roughing up the reduced bluing with fine steel wool;then following up with a conservative and selective application of BC plum brown rust finish to accentuate the already existing barrel and cylinder holster wear. I am looking for a blending of the existing blued finish and faux antique finish, rather than a complete strip and BC plum brown rust finish.

If any pards have thoughts on this refinish plan please feel free to comment and make suggestions.
El Hombre
 
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