2nd VS 3rd Generation Colt cap&ball revolvers?

[BluRidgDav]

What's the difference between 2nd and 3rd generation Colt cap&ball revolvers ?
What year of manufacture (or serial #) is the dividing line ?
Were the same models available in both generations ?
Thanx, Dave.

[Benton]

The 3rd generation Colts began coming out in 1994. The models have included:

1842 Patterson
1847 Walker
1848 Whitneyville-Hartford Dragoon
1848 Baby Dragoon
1848 1st Model Dragoon
1850 2nd Model Dragoon
1851 3rd Model Dragoon
1849 Pocket
1851 Navy
1860 Army
1861 Navy
1862 Pocket Navy
1862 Pocket Police
1862 Trapper

The Whitneyville-Hartford Dragoon, Trapper and 1849 Pocket were never offered as 2nd generation models.

The Third Generation models have the signature of Samuel Colt engraved on the backstrap (except for the special Heirloom Tiffany 1860 Army and 1842 Texas Patterson)

I do not have serial number ranges for the 3rd generation models. Dennis Adler's excellent book, Colt Blackpowder Reproductions & Replicas, contains ranges for many of the 2nd generations. If you have a particular question on one, let me know and I'll look it up.

[BluRidgDav]

Thanx Benton for all the info.

I know that the 3rd Gen. guns contain Italian parts. But, what company? and what parts? Does Colt BP simply assemble the guns in Brooklyn, NY ? Or do they make some parts here in the USA ?

Did 2nd Gen. Colts also contain foreign parts ?

I'm mainly interested in 1851 & 1861 Navies. My uncle has a 2-gun set of '51's (U.S. Grant & R.E. Lee) he got back in the early 1970's.

How do the two different generations match-up quality wise ?