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Description
The Colt Model 1848 Percussion Army Revolver was adopted in 1848 for the US Cavalry, hence its nickname, the "Colt Dragoon". The Dragoon was introduced to fix the problems of the earlier Colt Walker. The Dragoon was popular with civilians and the US military in the 1850's and during the early years of the American Civil War. The Dragoon would see increasingly limited service as newer models were introduced. In 1867, Colt offered to modify all remaining Dragoons to a new metallic cartridge, the .44-50 Colt. All in all, only some 4,000 would be converted. By 1869, the Union would stop purchasing ammunition for its remaining Dragoons as it couldn't be converted to the standard .58-48 Government round for pistols. By 1870, the Dragoon was essentially gone from Union service, supplanted by the newer 1869 Warhawk and the Model 1870 Double-Action Cavalry. The Confederates however would continue to use its Dragoons until the end of the war, even producing the .44-50 Colt rounds for it. The Confederates tried experimenting with converting it to the .42-52 LeMat, but Confederate units weren't satisfied with the new chambering as it was made the Dragoon unsafe to use.

Description
The Colt Model 1848 Percussion Army Revolver was adopted in 1848 for the US Cavalry, hence its nickname, the "Colt Dragoon". The Dragoon was introduced to fix the problems of the earlier Colt Walker. The Dragoon was popular with civilians and the US military in the 1850's and during the early years of the American Civil War. The Dragoon would see increasingly limited service as newer models were introduced. In 1867, Colt offered to modify all remaining Dragoons to a new metallic cartridge, the .44-50 Colt. All in all, only some 4,000 would be converted. By 1869, the Union would stop purchasing ammunition for its remaining Dragoons as it couldn't be converted to the standard .58-48 Government round for pistols. By 1870, the Dragoon was essentially gone from Union service, supplanted by the newer 1869 Warhawk and the Model 1870 Double-Action Cavalry. The Confederates however would continue to use its Dragoons until the end of the war, even producing the .44-50 Colt rounds for it. The Confederates tried experimenting with converting it to the .42-52 LeMat, but Confederate units weren't satisfied with the new chambering as it was made the Dragoon unsafe to use.