Approximately 7,000 First Model Colt Dragoons were manufactured. Most of these were marked "MODEL U.S.M.R." (U.S. Mounted Riflemen), but an undetermined small quantity were marked "U.S. DRAGOONS" like this example which was manufactured in 1849, the same year the 1st U.S. Dragoons engaged the Pawnee in multiple battles along the Oregon Trail and the 2nd U.S. Dragoons established Fort Worth. The U.S. Dragoons served in multiple posts on the western frontier in this era and remained loyal to the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War. The barrel has a German silver front sight blade and "{ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY}" on top. The cylinder has the Texas Ranger and Indian fight scene, the noted "U.S. DRAGOONS" marking, "COLTS PATENT," and the distinctive oval cylinder stops that identify the 1st Model Dragoons. The left side of the frame is marked "COLT'S/PATENT/U.S." The trigger guard has the distinctive squareback profile used on early Colt revolvers beginning with the Colt Walker. The grip has a faint outline of a cartouche on the right, and several components have small single letter inspection marks. The wedge is numbered "196" and "914." The matching partial or full serial number is marked on the barrel, loading lever, cylinder pin, cylinder, frame, trigger guard, back strap, and grip in the back strap mortise. "100" is lightly marked in the patina on the butt.