Colt 1878 Frontier DA .38 WCF Double Action 5 1/2″ Revolver, 1898 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,725.00
LSB#: LSB251101KD006
Make: Colt
Model: 1878 Double Action Frontier
Serial Number: 40386
Year of Manufacture: 1898 / Antique (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup/)
Caliber: .38 W.C.F.
Action Type: Single or Double Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The top is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” The butt is marked with the serial on two lines “40 / 386” forward of the lanyard loop. The rear face of the cylinder is marked “386”.
Barrel Length: 5 1 /2”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a quarter round blade fixed to the barrel that has been filed down to a flat blade. The rear sight is a “V” notch in the top strap.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are two-piece ivory grips with age cracks and wear. There is a crack with a chip out of the bottom of the left panel. There is a crack in the bottom of the right panel as well. Please see our photos for details. Overall, the grips rate in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Nickel
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is defined. There is light to mild fouling throughout. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8.5/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 85% of its old nickel refinish. The cylinder has light nicks and frosting of the nickel finish, particularly in the cylinder flutes. There are carbon rings on the face of the cylinder. The frame has minor thinning on most leading edges.and minor scratches on the frame. The screw heads are sharp with usable slots. The markings are fairly clear. Overall, this revolver rates Very Good condition as an antique.
Mechanics: There is slight play on the cylinder on lockup. Otherwise the action functions correctly. The double action trigger is fairly smooth. The single action is crisp. We have not fired 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 Model of 1878 Double Action Frontier represents Colt’s first true large-frame double action cartridge revolver and marks a critical transition in American handgun development. Introduced at a time when single-action revolvers still dominated the frontier, the 1878 combined Colt’s proven solid-frame, side-loading-gate design with the ability to fire in double action, offering faster follow-up shots while retaining familiar manual operation. Though later eclipsed by swing-out cylinder revolvers, the 1878 occupies an important place as a bridge between the classic frontier revolver and the modern service handgun.
This 1898-manufactured example is chambered in .38 W.C.F., a popular cartridge of the period that balanced power with manageable recoil. The 5½-inch barrel configuration reflects a common civilian and working-gun length of the era. The front sight has been filed to a flat blade, a period modification often performed to regulate point of impact for a preferred load. The revolver has been refinished in nickel, retaining strong coverage overall while still showing honest wear in the form of light frosting in the cylinder flutes, edge thinning, and minor handling marks that speak to age rather than neglect.
Condition remains very solid for an antique revolver of this type. The bore is bright with defined rifling and only light fouling, rating well for a black powder era handgun. The ivory grips exhibit age-related cracking and chipping consistent with natural material and long service, adding visual authenticity to the piece. Mechanically, the revolver functions correctly with a smooth double action pull and crisp single action break, showing only slight cylinder play at lockup. Overall, this Colt 1878 Double Action Frontier stands as a well-preserved example of a historically significant late-nineteenth-century revolver, offering tangible insight into Colt’s early double action development at the close of the American frontier era. Please see our high quality photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck on your bids!!!
BF
