1848 'Baby Dragoon' Cartridge Conversion?

[Frenchie]

I'm wondering if the Kirst or R&D conversion cylinders for the Colt 1849 Pocket Models will drop into, or fit with minor work, a Colt Blackpowder Series 1848 'Baby Dragoon' Pocket Model? I'm not getting any interest about my ads to sell the pistol, and may decide to keep it and get a drop-in conversion cylinder for it.

[TIZWIN]

Frenchie--the R&D cylinder I bought for my Colt 2nd Gen. Baby Dragoon (from Buffalo Arms) did not work initially.  I sent it to R&d and they fit it for free.  I have tested it repeatedly with A-Zoom dummies.  So far, so good.  I have not taken it to the range yet.

I think you have made the right decision not to sell that little honey.  The 2nd Gen. Colt cap 'n' balls are the best around, and the Baby Dragoon, besides being a cute little sucker, was made in low numbers.

But my personal mantra has always been, "never sell a Colt."

Good luck.
 

[Frenchie]

TIZ, thanks for the response. I hadn't yet decided to keep the Baby Dragoon, but you just convinced me to. I'll email R&D and see what they say about fitting it.

Now, help my poor, muddled brain with something: What do "1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation" mean?

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

I would think that there might be problems with a 1849 conversion cylinder in a '48 Baby Dragoon.  Big difference in the bolt design between the two.  I doubt if the '48 bolt would properly "lock up" the '49 cylinder.

As for the "generations;"

1st Gen. = Original colt percussion revolvers
2nd Gen. = Colt reproductions made in the 1970's
3rd Gen. = Colt reproductions made in the 1990's - known as the "Signature Series."

While the 2nd and 3rd generation guns were made of imported Italian parts, fit and finished here by various companies under license from Colt, they are considered authentic Colts.

[TIZWIN]

Capt. John--that's what I thought, but I was assured by the folks at R&D that the conversion would work, or they would make it work.  They did.  The bolts are indeed different, but not enough to matter.  Same goes for the R&D cylinder for my 2nd Gen. Colt 1st Mod. Dragoon.  Square bolt notches in the cylinder, round bolt on the gun.  Works fine.  Same cylinder literally "dropped in" my Uberti/Cimarron Whitneyville/Hartford Dragoon. 

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Tizwin,
Thanks for setting me straight.  I would have bet money that the different bolts would present a much greater problem than they apparently do.
CJF