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Historic Cased, Gustave Young-Engraved and Ivory-Gripped Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, Inscribed "Colonel P.M. Milliken"...
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Description
Historic Cased, Gustave Young-Engraved and Ivory-Gripped Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, Inscribed "Colonel P.M. Milliken"Serial number 16477 with "o" on triggerguard strap beneath number marking. .44 caliber, 6-shot cylinder with Texas Rangers and Comanche Indians roll scene. 7 1/2-inch part round, part octagon barrel with brass blade front sight. Top flat of barrel lug stamped
"Address Saml. Colt/New-York City."
Engraved on left side of frame, "COLTS/PATENT."
Rich blued finish, with color casehardened frame, hammer, and loading lever. Silver plated brass gripstraps. The grips of single piece ivory. Profusely scroll and border engraved on barrel, loading lever, wedge, cylinder, frame, hammer and gripstraps. Engraving attributed to Gustave Young.
Varnished mahogany case with lining of blue velvet. Embossed stand of arms plunger powder flask with rare silver-plated top, rare high gloss blued steel double cavity bullet mold, tin of Eley Bros. percussion caps with green paper label, miscellaneous lead projectiles, and key. Brass shield-shaped keyplate inlaid on front of case. Within case lid, a rare trade card of Blunt & Syms, No. 177 Broadway, New York, a firm with a long history of association with Samuel Colt. It was Blunt & Syms which built the prototype Walker Colt revolver, for Samuel Colt, in 1846.
Biographical background on Colonel P.M. Millikin appeared in R.L. Wilson and R.E. Hable, Colt Pistols, to quote:
Colonel Minor Millikin of the 1st Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was a brave and efficient officer in the Union Army, but was killed leading a saber charge against the Confederates at Stone River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee on December 31, 1862. Cited for gallantry by General Rosecrans, he was also noted in a report of Brigadier General John A. Wharton, C.S.A. - "Colonel Milliken was killed by Private John Bowers, Co. K, Texas Rangers, in single combat." Colonel Milliken left a widow and a four year old son, Paul M., who grew up to inherit his father's firearm. Condition indicates that the gun was not used in service but became a prized heirloom of the family. Paul became a colonel during the Spanish-American War, and well might have had his own name inscribed on the backstrap of the gun. He served as chief of police of Cincinnati from 1903-1911, saw more service in World War I and was successful in the insurance business until his death in 1934. The gun was acquired from descendants of the [Millikin] family.
Backstrap Presentation and Other Deluxe Dragoon Revolvers
A few Third Model Dragoon revolvers in the 16000 serial range were used for presentations. The P.M. Milliken revolver fits neatly into this distinguished group. Listing this revolver with others reveals the significance placed by Colonel Colt on deluxe Dragoon revolvers.
Among the presentation grade, engraved Third Model Dragoons from the 16000 serial range are the following, most of which are published in R.L. Wilson, The Colt Engraving Book, volume I, chapter III:
16301 and 16302 from the Colt Company as a shooting prize to Company C, U.S. Mounted Rifleman (believed received by George Hess; varnished select walnut grips). National Firearms Museum Collection, gift of George and Butonne Repaire.
16461 from Colonel Samuel Colt and the Colt Company to E.K. Root. Private collection, deluxe cased set (varnished select walnut grips).
16467 from Colonel Colt's Workmen to John B. Floyd, Secretary of War. Private collection (varnished select walnut grips).
16474 and 16476 cased set, with ivory grips, Robert M. Lee Collection.
16477 inscribed Colonel P.M. Milliken (misspelled by engraver)
16480 from Colonel Colt to Czar Alexander II of Russia, The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (varnished select walnut grips).
16481 from Colonel Colt to the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia, The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (varnished select walnut grips).
16482 from Colonel Colt to the Grand Duke Michael of Russia, The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia (varnished select walnut grips).
Accompanied by a clamshell style bookbinder's document case of half leather, with extensive background material, including pages from various books in which the revolver has been featured, magazine articles, and historical letter from R.L. Wilson.
Literature:
The P.M. Millikin Dragoon has been featured frequently in various publications, principal among these:
R.L. Wilson, American Arms Collectors Percussion Colts and Their Rivals The Al Cali Collection (pages 17-19)
--------------, Samuel Colt Presents (page 56)
--------------, Colt Pistols (page 49-51 and 126)
--------------, Colt Handguns (Japanese, p. 6,)
--------------, The Book of Colt Engraving (p. 49)
--------------, The Colt Heritage, (pp. 22, 59)
--------------, Colt An American Legend (pp. 22, 59)
--------------, Colt Engraving (p. 50)
-------------- ed., The Texas Gun Collector magazine, front cover, Spring 1989
--------------, The Colt Engraving Book (volume I, p. 84).
This rare and historic specimen is among the most desirable of Colt percussion revolvers. The exquisite engraving, the presence of ivory grips, the Blunt & Syms labeled case, the full complement of accessories, and the history of exhibition and publication rank the Milliken Dragoon among the most sought-after of embellished and historic Colt percussion revolvers.
Provenance:
Robert J. Nelson, M.D.
John S. duMont
Al Cali
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