Original U.S. Colt Nickel Plated M1877 .38cal Lightning Revolver Made in 1879 with 2 1/2" Barrel and Ivory Grips - Matching Serial 18806

Original Item: Only One Available The romance around Colt "Cowboy" Revolvers never ceases to amaze us. This is a lovely "frontier used" Nickel-plated example of the Model 1877 "Lightning" Double Action .38 Caliber Revolver, which was fitted with beautiful custom ivory grips. It is marked on the bottom of the grip, frame, and trigger guard with serial number 18806, indicating it was made in 1879. There is even a faint 0 and 6 stamped on the back of the cylinder, making this a very nice “All Matching” example, with no parts swapped out over the years. It also is marked on the loading gate with assembly number 213.

The M1877 was offered from the factory in two basic finishes: nickel-plated or a case-hardened frame with a blue barrel and cylinder. The revolver was available in barrel lengths from 2.5" to 7.5" and was available with or without the ejector rod and housing. The shorter barreled versions without the ejector rod were marketed as "shopkeeper's specials".

This example has a nice 2 ½" barrel, and was originally nickel-plated from the factory. It looks to have seen light to moderate use during its life, most likely on the frontier, and still retains about 50% of the original plating, with the rest worn to a polished steel patina. This has worn the markings somewhat, however the etched panel on the left side can still be seen in the right light. It is still marked on the top of the barrel with the Colt two line address, correct for a shorter barrel:-

COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co.
HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.

It also still has all of the original patent markings on the left side of the frame, though the bottom line was a bit faintly struck:-

PAT. SEPT 19.1871.
''     ''   5.    '' 74.
''  JAN.19.   '' 75.

The M1877 revolvers were marketed under different names such as "LIGHTNING" to appeal to different groups of customers. Although all were of the same basic design, they were also referred to as "THUNDERERS", "RAINMAKERS", and SHERIFF'S MODELS" as well, depending on the caliber and configuration. None of these names were Colt designations, nor used by the factory in any reference materials of the time. All of these terms were coined by Benjamin Kittredge, one of Colt's major distributors. Kittredge was responsible for the terms "Peacemaker" for the Single Action Army, "Omnipotent" for the Colt M1878 double-action (often known as the "Frontier" model), and nicknames for the various chamberings of the New Line models. This example is marked 38CAL on the trigger guard and etched COLT. D.A. 38 on the left side of the barrel, so it is definitely a "Lightning."

We purchased this revolver as a "LIGHTNING" and it is in very good condition, being one of the “Shopkeeper’s Specials”, made without an ejector rod and easy to conceal. It displays a lovely patina overall from use and cleaning, giving it a great "been there" look, with just a bit of past peppering in areas where the plating has eroded. It does look like the front sight was altered a bit to give it a different profile. It is fitted with fantastic aged ivory grips, which show some great grain, particularly on the left side. There is some cracking and yellowing, but they do look to probably have been fitted in the middle of the revolver’s service life, as they do not show as much wear as the other components.

The revolver cycles beautifully in both single and double action, with none of the finicky behavior we often see with these old “cowboy” revolvers. The mechanics are crisp with just a bit of wobble, and the cylinder lockup is solid. The bore is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with strong lands and grooves. There is a bit of past fouling and oxidation, now cleaned away, but it is definitely a great bore for being from the age of black powder.

The "Lightning" was the favored personal weapon of famous Manchester (UK) Victorian detective and then head of CID, Jerome Caminada. Old West outlaw John Wesley Hardin frequently used both "Lightning" and "Thunderer" versions of the Colt 1877 revolver. Likewise the 1877 "Thunderer" in .41 caliber was the preferred weapon of Billy the Kid and was his weapon of choice when he was killed by Pat Garrett in 1881.

A lovely Nickel-plated example of an early Cartridge Colt Revolver in .38 caliber, fitted with beautiful ivory grips! In very good condition and ready to display, a Pre-1899 ANTIQUE made in 1879.

Specifications:-
Year of Manufacture: 1879
Caliber: .38 "Long" Colt
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 2 ½ inches
Overall Length: 8 inches
Action: Single/Double Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver