... So I did the deed and purchased one from Dixie Gun Works; the $350 price seemed reasonable for a new Uberti Colt Dragoon, considering that the asking price for used ones is nearly the same.
Excellent! Then the discussion has led to some fruitful results
, we will now have another proud Holster pistol owner.
The 3rd Model is always a good choice especially if you have big hands because the trigger guard won't bust your "knuckles" (actually your middle finger). I would recommend a 3rd Model to someone unless they have shot a full sized 1847, 1st model, 2nd model or the "Whitneyville-Dragoon" before and know the trigger guard won't bite them.
The squared back trigger guard is what I always disliked about the original Ruger Super Blackhawk trigger guards, they busted your second finger under recoil. It was actually the square edge coming back down after the revolver had pivoted a bit in your hand under hard recoil. With .44 Spl loads your hand would pivot at the wrist and all was well, but under booming .44 mag loads they always slipped a bit in the hand with the smooth wood grips. Pachmyers helped with the recoil, but the original Pachmyer designs pushed my fingers up against the trigger guard.
If you are just shooting target or plinking, especially with less than full cylinder loads of BP the original square guards are fine. If you have time to adjust your grip and taking your time the square guard probably won't even be an issue, but if you are drawing them from holsters on the clock and shooting in the summer with a bit of sweat on your hands then I can attest they will from time to time bite you (me at least) even with 40 grain loads under a ball.
The 1847 and 1848 Holster pistol grips (not trigger guards) are my favorite size for length and girth. Bill Ruger chose that general shape and size of the grips when he started making his single action revolvers but I'm guessing he chose the square trigger guard and 1/4" longer grip for his Super Blackhawk because it was synonymous with the more powerful "Dragoon type" pistols. He did make some style blunders with other of his products, he definitely had an esoteric lapse in judgment when it came to his original "dog leg" bolt design on his model 77 rifles. I think the "Dragoon" style trigger guard was a nod to the past big pistols, since then Ruger now makes the Super Blackhawk with a rounded trigger guard on some versions intended for hard recoiling hunting pistols.
The Whitneyville-Hartford Dragoon is actually my favorite shorter cylinder Colt's pattern Holster pistol. I like the "iron" backstrap and the grip shape where it blends to the frame, it just looks good. The lever latch, shorter barrel and the lighter weight make it a pistol you can shoot with both pistols drawn. Try that for an entire match with your "Walkers." You can do it (and I have) but it is sort of a special event type of thing. I guess the 1860 Army models have spoiled me, except I do like the Holster pistol grip shape better. The 1860 Army is larger (read that as longer) than the grips we now call Navy size, but the girth starts out like a Navy model shape and just blends out to the added length of the Army model grip. I guess my ideal percussion pistol would be an 1860 with 1847/1848 grips on it with the round trigger guard.
Congratulations Norton Commando,
Mako