Uberti Whitneyville-Dragoon Question

[44goon]

Greeting from Australia Guys

I have managed to get myself a Uberti 3rd model Dragoon but have been unable to track down another one for my cowboy action shooting.

I will be posting a picture as soon as the 3rd model arrives

I can get however a uberti 1848 WHITNEYVILLE - DRAGOON !!!!!

Has anyone had any experience with these horse pistols ? Is the squared trigger guard the only real difference ?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Take care & all the best.

44goon.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

That Triggerguard ,and an oval bolt and cylinder slots. The T/G's were transsitional on the original ones. Squareback T/G came ion the Whitneyville" and 1sr]t model Dragoons. Transitional 1st and 2nd models have the more ovaled T/G.

My Colt Signature 1st Model Dragoon transitional(oval cylinder slots and rounded T/G) R&D .45 Long Colt conversion, C&B cly. on side.



SG

 

[mykeal]

Colt never identified the production changes in the Dragoons as First, Second or Third; those are modern names the collectors and replica manufacturers used.

I'm not familiar with transitional models - that's a new designation in my experience. Certainly the changes Colt made as the design matured were introduced in what we would today call a 'phased' approach - they didn't just stop making one model and start making another, so it's likely some original guns appeared with features of what we now call two different models. I've never seen a First Model with a rounded trigger guard before. SG's gun is very unusual - the Fifth Edition of the Blue Book of Modern Black Powder Arms does not list a Signature Series First Model with the rounded trigger guard, nor does it mention transitional models having been produced. Very interesting.

The first Dragoon was the Whitneyville; it had the Walker grip and frame but the Dragoon's shorter barrel and cylinder. With the new Dragoon barrel assembly the wedge was inserted from the left side, as opposed to the right side on the Walker.

What we now call the First Model retained the Whitneyville cylinder with it's oval cylinder stops but the grip changed to the smaller Dragoon style - you can see the difference where the grips meet the frame below the hammer. The trigger guard was the Walker/Whitneyville squared design. Interestingly, the Walker frame was used throughout all four Dragoon designs.

The Second Model Dragoon changed the cylinder stop notch design but kept the squareback trigger guard. The Third Model used the rounded trigger guard. I believe there was also a mainspring change between the Second and Third Models.

Here's my small collection:

 

[72coupe]

I have a good deal of experience firing Uberti 1st & 3rd models. The models with the squared bolt stops are more reliable.

The squared trigger gaurd will give a sharp rap on the knuckles every time you fire it.

 

[Smokin_Gun]

I've never seen a First Model with a rounded trigger guard before. SG's gun is very unusual - the Fifth Edition of the Blue Book of Modern Black Powder Arms does not list a Signature Series First Model with the rounded trigger guard, nor does it mention transitional models having been produced. Very interesting.

Mykeal, I hadn't seen one either till I got mine, at first I thought it had been changed for compfort to the knuckles, but the Colt Sigs Serial numbers all match, type and all. Some where I read and couldn't find it exactly what you had said about a trigger guard from a 2nd model sold on a 1st model. Loading lever lactches ect what ever may have fit one and other.
I am under the impression that Colt in N.Y. put this was running out of 1st Model trigger guards or they blooped and it got by QC and now I have it and may be worth a 1/4 of a Million Bucks and they are still lookin' for it




About the comment on the slots well first it is a Colt finished in the U.S.A.
your Uberti 1st model Dragoon may not have been operatig correctly, but mine does. They have a much more meaty cylinder slot & beefier Boltheadwith a destint lock up, than a 2nd or Third model...I'd actually prefer the Whitmeyville to any of the Dragoons.
I could put this on and number it, but I like my story about My Colt 1st Model Dragoon.



SG

 

[OldWolf]

Nice looking guns. I have a Whitneyville too but haven't shot it much.