ROY ROGERS DALE EVANS COLT LIGHTNING .38 LC DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVER, 1902 C&R
SOLD FOR: $14,280
Roy Rogers Dale Evans Colt Lightning .38 LC Double Action Revolver, 1902 C&R
Make: Colt
Model: 1877 Lightning
Serial Number: 137560
Year of Manufacture: 1902 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .38 Long Colt
Action Type: Single and Double Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate 6-Round Cylinder
Barrel Length: 4 1/2″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is tall thin half-round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at the top of each panel. Originally black, the grips have gone to a brown color. The grips have light-moderate handling wear with areas of smoothed checkering. There are some light nicks and scratches. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good-Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling. There is a patch of light erosion and minor pitting in the bore about 2″ in front of the forcing cone. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 85% of its metal finish. There is wear at the muzzle on the left and along the ejector housing. Much of the case color is still strong with muting on the topstrap and recoil shield. There is handling wear in the grip areas and there is some oxidation around and under the grips. The cylinder has finish wear behind each flute and scattered light oxidation. There is some other scattered minor oxidation and a few light nicks and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks with no play when the trigger is depressed. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a custom display case with a period Remington UMC box with 48 fired cases, a signed letter of authenticity from the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum & Happy Trails Theater, a signed personal letter from Dusty Rogers to Rick Hacker about the revolver, a photo of Roy Rogers on Trigger, a photocopy of Rick Hacker’s article “King of the Cowboys” from the March 1984 edition of American Rifleman, and a signed letter from Mr. Hacker detailing his own personal history with the revolver.
Our Assessment: The Colt M1877 was a double action revolver MANUFACTURED by Colt’s Patent Fire Arms from January 1877 to 1909 for a total of 166,849 revolvers. The Model 1877 was offered in three calibers, which lent them three unofficial names: the “Lightning”, the “Thunderer”, and the “Rainmaker”. The principal difference between the models was the cartridge in which they were chambered: the “Lightning” being chambered in .38 Long Colt; the “Thunderer” in .41 Long Colt. An earlier model in .32 Colt known as the “Rainmaker” was offered in 1877. The M1877 was designed by one of the inventors of the M1873 Colt Single Action Army, William Mason, as Colt’s first attempt at manufacturing a double-action revolver and was also the first successful US-made double-action cartridge revolver. Neither “Lightning” nor “Thunderer” were Colt designations, nor used by the factory in any reference materials. Both terms were coined by Benjamin Kittredge, one of Colt’s major distributors, who was also responsible for the term “Peacemaker” for the Single Action Army. Old West Outlaw John Wesley Hardin frequently used both “Lightning” and “Thunderer” versions of the Colt 1877 revolver.This Lightning is outstanding not only for its condition, both cosmetic and mechanical, and not only for coming from the personal collection of noted gun writer, NRA Field editor and winner of the John T. Amber Literary Award, Rick Hacker (apologies, Mr. Hacker). This an outstanding opportunity for collectors as this revolver came from the Roy Rogers – Dale Evans Museum and was personally owned by the Singing Cowboy and Cowgirl. This documented not only in a letter of authenticity from the museum, but also in a personal letter to Mr. Hacker from Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. A copy of the article Mr. Hacker writer for American Rifleman about Roy Rogers is also included, and the custom presentation case housing the revolver makes this ready for display in your collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
