A different old Colt

[Mad John]

Just for curiosity. has anyone ever seen one of these? Made in 1904.

 

[gll]

Seriously, double action? No...

 

[Mad John]

Seriously, double action? No...

You are correct it is a Double Action.

 

[easy rider]

Just for curiosity. has anyone ever seen one of these? Made in 1904. View attachment 262473 View attachment 262474 View attachment 262475 View attachment 262476

 

[Hoji]

DA but still has a SA load gate? Neat.

 

[Leadeye]

Looks like it was made from an 1877, very nice work! I've seen plowshare grips on a 1877, but never that well done.

 

[Mad John]

Yes! it is an 1877 DA Colt, It was custom altered By Colt in 1904. Colt marks their factory alterations of those models by the "Star" and the "&" stamp on the right rear of the trigger guard bow. The Star alone signifies that the piece was refinished at the Hartford Plant. The ampersand ("&") signifies a physical design alteration. Also marked on the in side of the grip frame where the alteration was done. The grips are then changed to fit the frame. In the SAA style. I had to get it but I have not lettered it yet.
The 1877 DA revolvers were a real "work" of frustration. But all THREE Models are getting to be collectable when you can find them that actually work....
John

 

[Leadeye]

Thanks! I had no idea that Colt did that sort of work. I've seen a few that were done by gunsmiths past but never with that degree of quality. I shoot my 1877s off and on, 3F BP behind hollow base pure lead bullets. While complex and cranky to keep going I can see why they were popular particularily in 41 Colt. It was a light, fast handling gun with a punch.

 

[Mad John]

Thanks! I had no idea that Colt did that sort of work. I've seen a few that were done by gunsmiths past but never with that degree of quality. I shoot my 1877s off and on, 3F BP behind hollow base pure lead bullets. While complex and cranky to keep going I can see why they were popular particularily in 41 Colt. It was a light, fast handling gun with a punch.

That is why they are called "Lightnings" Colt's first attempt at a DA Revolver. Probably the worst designed DA in history. They made bunches of them and went out of production in 1909 and no more spare parts were made too. More often than not when you find one at a show or for sale they do not function as designed.
Most gunsmiths won't mess with them because there isn't enough cuss words! I get them sent to me to fix from Texas to New Hampshire but I do not advertise it!
But all THREE models are getting difficult and expensive to find a nice one. I used to have a five gallon bucket full....
You can spend a lifetime collecting the 1877 in all of the variations. (3 calibers, finishes, grips and engraving styles and rare factory modifications} even ones ordered for specific Corporations and railroads and Police departments. Like American Express and Wells Fargo. Not to mention ones owned by famous people.
John

 

[Leadeye]

I've done some limited work on the ones I have, Jack's First has been a good source of parts for me on them and a variety of other guns. I've never seen a 32 Rainmaker though.

Shooting these guns is fun, I like the 38s as you can easily use Hornady HBWC bullets with BP for an easy to make cartridge. I've never had good luck with heeled stuff.

 

[Mad John]

I've done some limited work on the ones I have, Jack's First has been a good source of parts for me on them and a variety of other guns. I've never seen a 32 Rainmaker though.

Shooting these guns is fun, I like the 38s as you can easily use Hornady HBWC bullets with BP for an easy to make cartridge. I've never had good luck with heeled stuff.

The sear mechanism is by fa the hardest part to find and fit. I deal with Jack too. I have a number of original sears in original Colt Hartford envelopes.
I am in the process of negotiating a Rainmaker but I think $17K is a bit steep. Out side of Patterson's, Original Walkers and Pinch Frame SAAs The Rainmaker1877 is the rarest production model Colt! And getting more expensive by the minute.

 

[A1Oni]

i wish those old thunderers or lightings werent so fragile, because they are cool guns.

 

[Lonesome Dove]

It just never caught on.

 

[Mad John]

The 1877 Colt DA was quite popular although fragile. They made thousands of them from 1877 thru 1909. Numerous police and security agencies bout many. American Express, Adam's & Company and Train Companies too. The .38 Colt is the most common and many varieties known as "The Lightning" The .41 Colt had a little more bark but was actually identical to the .38 just a larger caliber known as "The "Thunderer" But the really RARE model is the .32 Colt Known as "The Rainmaker" plan on dropping several thousand for a Rainmaker! I do not have one YET but I AM looking. I have around 20 different of the other models variations.

 

[glenbo]

I well remember seeing a couple of those back when I was finishing up high school in Big Bear Lake, CA. I don't remember who owned them but am certain they were contemporaries of Jeff Cooper, who was my History teacher for a short while.

 

[Mad John]

I well remember seeing a couple of those back when I was finishing up high school in Big Bear Lake, CA. I don't remember who owned them but am certain they were contemporaries of Jeff Cooper, who was my History teacher for a short while.

A couple Rain Makers? I only know of one that may be available. I have an offer in on that one.
As far as Lightnings and Thunderers, I started collecting them when Nobody wanted them back in the 60's. They were everywhere. Go to a gun show and if you showed any interest in them they ended up in your back pocket. Most didn't work and nobody wanted to work on broken ones. At one time I had a couple five gallon buckets of broken ones. I still have several cigar boxes of parts.

 

[glenbo]

Sorry that I wasn't clear. The ones i saw were exactly like the photo in your original post, and this would have been in 1969.

 

[Mad John]

Sorry that I wasn't clear. The ones i saw were exactly like the photo in your original post, and this would have been in 1969.

Be careful when looking for a Square Butt 1877. Look for Colt's factory alteration markings. Get it authenticated by Colt or Colt Collectors Association experts. I have seen several that looked good until the grips were removed and the alteration was not Colt quality.