Walker vz 3rd Dragoon

[c.robertson]

Thinking about purchasing a Uberti Walker or 3rd Model Dragoon.

Which would be suggested?

I am leaning strongly in favor of the Dragoon for the more secure loading lever lock and (I think) better cylinder latch.
The Uberti price dissuades me somewhat since I bought an excellent used Blue Ruger Old Army for less money, $300.00 as opposted to the Uberti costing in the $360.00 range.

[kwhi43]

Wish I would have know that. I just sold a un-fired 3rd model for 270.00
It was a Uberti. Oh well. Spent all day yesterday at the club. Wife had to
sight in her .40 rifle with receiver sights. Got to start on the pistol shootin
here soon. Times a runnin. The club has a 3-day shoot in May and June.
Next month is the Gun Show at the club the 4th Saturday.

[Foto Joe]

Everybody who owns one or both has an opinion, since nobody has chimed in yet I'll give mine first.

Dragoon

The loading lever latch issue is a non-issue really with the Walkers, it's just part of their personality. Both of them are equally impressive in my opinion but I just prefer the Dragoon. Also, don't be fooled into thinking the Dragoon won't drop the loading lever, it will. All that has to happen is for the screw on the lever to loosen up just a touch and she'll fall. Luckily it's a warning that you're about to go hunting for a screw in the dirt, don't ignore the warning.

Walkers on the other hand have a unique history in that they were the gun that brought Sam Colt back into business. Walker/Dragoon/Walker/Dragoon.....

Yup, still voting for the Dragoon.

[ClemBert]

If you are never going to have the hankering to fire 60 grains of powder in a Walker and plan to limit yourself to 50 grains then I'd question if a Walker would be for you. It is quite heavy. But then again, wouldn't it be kewl to own a copy of the world's first magnum revolver. I believe it wasn't until the 357 magnum came out in 1934 that the Walker was surpassed in "magnum power".

There are plenty of reports from Walker owners that the the loading lever will NOT fall with heavy loads. Either they are lucky or they've made the most modest adjustment to their loading lever latch to prevent this from happening.

I have a Walker but do not have a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd model Dragoon. You know what that means? Now I need to get a 2nd model Dragoon!

[Foto Joe]

That sounds like "2" for Dragoon to me, I would go out right now and just buy one. Why wait for the Walker owners to muddy up the water?

ClemBert,

Why 2nd Model? The OP might need this information to push him over the edge.

[ClemBert]

Joe,

Because it is tradition on this forum to muddy up the waters by introducing a new variable into the equation!

Actually, I like both the 2nd and 3rd Dragoon. I keep telling everyone I want the 2nd model because the square-back trigger guard gives it a bit of an old timely look. Jus' tryin' to hang on to as much nostalgia as possible but being practical about it by eliminating the 1st model as a contender.

Tell ya what OP...since you asked lets settle it this way...If you like round trigger guards get the 3rd model Dragoon. If you like the look of the square-back trigger guard of the Walker then go for it. Now, wasn't that easy?

[Hardcase]

A Dragoon, if only so that you can hold it up and say, "Why that's a Colt's Dragoon!" and laugh yourself silly.

I know, sometimes my wife gives me that look, too.

[ClemBert]

Wasn't that a Walker in the 1969 movie True Grit?

[Foto Joe]

Yes, and Agustus McCray had one too in Lonesome Dove. That pretty much means that everybody and their dog has a Walker. Ya just don't see too many Dragoons. That means having one makes you "Special".

[ClemBert]

U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne): "Why, by God, girl, that's a Colt's Dragoon!" in reference to the Colt Walker that Mattie is holding up.

[Foto Joe]

So are you now insinuating that Dragoons are "Girly Guns"?

At this point, I think the OP has decided that we've all lost our minds.

[Fingers McGee]

I am leaning strongly in favor of the Dragoon for the more secure loading lever lock and (I think) better cylinder latch.

The Dragoon for the reasons you state, plus, Dragoon:

Is lighter - so is easier to carry/handle
Doesn't have V type hammer spring - easier to disassemble and reassemble
Is usually cheaper to purchase
Uses less powder when loaded with max load, so is cheaper to shoot.
Is indistinguishable from a Walker by most people at the range so they wouldnt know the difference anyhow.

FM

[freedom475]

I had a Walker for 15years... shot it 1000's of times and really liked it. The loading lever falling was a huge issue for me...it totally sucked.:barf: I tried to field-smith the loading lever latch one day and snapped her right off (actually blew out the dove tail "you piece of junk! Ya' like being broke? There, now you'r broke..."... So then a good friend of mine with a machine shop TIG welded it back into place and the lever never dropped again..

Even though I have never owned one.. of the 2 choices my vote is for the Dragoon..

Now it took me quite a while, and lots of Colts to see the light about C&B's..but if it were my money it would be a Rem58

[surbat6]

I assure you that neither the Walker nor the Dragoon are "girly guns."
As owner of both, I'd pick the Dragoon as a bit handier to actually use.
Before picking either of those old .44's, I'd buy an 1860 Army...actually, I did - five times (I still have four of them). It's much handier than either.
Enough BS. Now for the truth:
I'd pick ALL of them, and did.

[Razor740]

Try this;
Get you a han'ful of Yankee dollars,
Go to the gun show,
buy the first one you run across ????

Next gun show, buy the t'other one !!

[Doc Hoy]

It doesn't matter which one you buy first. Just make sure you eventually wind up with all four.

Maybe the thing to do is lurk around Gunbroker and look for deals. Let the price decide.

[c.robertson]

KWHI43, seems like I am always a day late or dollar short.

Thank y'all for the input. Not real set on purchasing yet anothr BP pistol, it would be #8.
I passed on an CVA/ASM 3rd model Dragoon, it went auction for $245.00 + shipping. Heard to many negative things about the ASM's.

[Foto Joe]

Originally Posted by c.robertson

Heard to many negative things about the ASM's.

With any gun purchase, if you buy sight unseen you're buying a "Pig in a poke" I'm afraid. My Dragoon is an ASM and it's only flaw is a tool mark inside the hammer channel. Other than that its fit and finish are excellent.

On the other hand, I did have an ASM Walker and although asthetically it looked good, function wise it was a paper weight. It's always best if you can fondle it first. Unfortunately on GunBroker that isnt' possible so make sure they have a return policy that allows for inspection.

The results you've gotten from your original question sort of surprise me. I honestly thought the Walker owners would have beat the drum more loudly in favor of their Horse Pistol. Both guns are a lot of fun to shoot, both will eat you out of house and home in powder though. Take your time making your decision and one of these days you'll see something that just screams "Take me HOME!!"

[Doc Hoy]

...with the right honorable Foto Joe.

I have a Walker and a 2nd Dragon from ASM and I like them both.

I certainly would have piled on to KWHI's Dragoon. I am sorry to miss that deal.

245.00 for an ASM sounds about right (maybe a little low) when you consider the availability of a new Uberti at 358.00 plus 16 bucks shipping from Taylors.

[SIGSHR]

I have both, the Dragoon balances better for me, the Walker a little too muzzle heavy. Also the 3rd Model Dragoon can take the shoulder stock if that's a consideration.

[ClemBert]

Is the main spring different in a 2nd model vs 3rd model?

[Fingers McGee]

Originally Posted by clembert

Is the main spring different in a 2nd model vs 3rd model?

No, they are the same. Patersons, Walkers, Transition Walkers and 1st Model Dragoons have a V type mainspring, all other models have a single leaf mainspring.

[ClemBert]

Originally Posted by Fingers McGee

No, they are the same. Patersons, Walkers, Transition Walkers and 1st Model Dragoons have a V type mainspring, all other models have a single leaf mainspring.

Thanks. That is what I thought. As such I think I'll continue to consider the 2nd model over the 3rd. I would have dropped consideration of the 2nd model had it have the V type main spring.

....I know, I know...get 'em all.

[Bill Akins]

Clembert wrote:
U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne): "Why, by God, girl, that's a Colt's Dragoon!" in reference to the Colt Walker that Mattie is holding up.

Coincidentally I just watched True Grit again last night. I didn't look that closely at the girl's father's Dragoon. But are you telling me that the Duke and his movie property master/firearms provider used a Walker and called it a Dragoon? I've still got the movie saved in my cable saved show listing, I'll have to view it again and fast forward to when they show the revolver so I can look at it more closely. If they used a Walker and called it a Dragoon, I have to wonder why they didn't just use a Dragoon? I mean the Duke knew firearms, he worked with them all his life. Strange.


.

[madcratebuilder]

Walker....Dragoon...indecision? Then you need a Whitneytville Dragoon. Half Walker, half Dragoon.




It's big, heavy, the loading lever well fall down at the most inopportune time, eats too much powder and is like no other Colt revolver.

The Walker




Dragoons....

Fluted


3rd model


Texas Dragoon