Colt 1877 Lightning Etched Panel 3 1/2″ DA .38 Cal Revolver, 1880 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1051
LSB#: 210923SS85
Make: Colt
Model: 1877 “Lightning”
Serial Number: 24014
Year of Manufacture: 1880 (COLT Serial Number Lookup)
Caliber: .38 Colt
Action Type: Double and Single Action Side Gate Loaded Revolver
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. Co / HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.”. The left side of the barrel has an etched panel marked “COLT. D. A. 38”. The left side of the frame under the cylinder is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871. / ” ” 15. “74. / ” JAN. 19. “75.”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a partial of the serial number, “14”. The front of the guard, the frame chin, and the toe of the grip frame are marked with the serial number, “24014”. The inside of the loading gate is marked with assembly number “798”. The left of the trigger guard is marked “38 CAL”. The bottom of the barrel has inspector mark “S” above the cylinder pin head, the front face of the cylinder has “B”, the hammer slot is marked “1” and “H”.
Barrel Length: 3 1/2”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a german silver blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a v-notch integral to the topstrap.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The grip is a one-piece checkered rosewood on a bird’s head grip frame. The grip has light handling wear with some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. On the right, there is a more notable ding toward the top near the front edge. Otherwise, the checkering is generally well defined. The “V”-shaped borders at the bottom have some light wear, but are also generally defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips rate in Fine condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is well defined, generally sharp where not interrupted by erosion. There is some scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 35% of its metal finish. Most remaining finish is in the side flats of the frame and trigger guard as well as on the top of the backstrap in front of the knuckle. There is some scattered remaining finish on the barrel and there are some spots of good case color in the protected areas of the frame. The cylinder has some blue finish on the rear face, though there is notable wear on the rear face around the chamber mouths. Most other surfaces have wear which shows minor discoloration from oxidation. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with infrequent minor erosion, mostly around the cylinder-gap. There are two small patches of more notable scratching on the top of the backstrap in front of the knuckle and on the left recoil shield by the hammer. There are tool marks around most screw heads. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range are tool marked with serviceable slots. The markings are fairly clear, the etched panel is legible, but shows some wear. Overall, this revolver rates in Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up tightly when the trigger is depressed. The double action trigger is fairly smooth. The single action trigger is crisp. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: None.
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 Short Colt; the “Thunderer” in .41 Long Colt. 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. As their first double action, the new Colt revolvers saw interest from a variety of users, some famous and others notorious. Billy the Kid had a Lightning on him when he fatefully met his end at the hand of Pat Garrett. This is a nice example of an earlier Lightning. It has a shorter, 3 1/2″ barrel which did not allow the mounting of an ejector rod, frequently marketed as “Shopkeeper” or “Storekeeper” configuration. Its barrel also has the enigmatic (as well as frequently worn away) etched-panel caliber marking. Perhaps its most desirable features are its one-piece checkered rosewood grip and german silver front sight, found only on the earlier 1877s, with the great majority of production receiving two-piece checkered hard rubber grips and steel front sights of the same finish as the barrel. In all, this would make a fine addition to Colt collections as an example of the early 1877. Please see our photos and good luck!