Custom Engraved Colt 1877 Lightning 3.5″ DA .38 LC Revolver, 1877 Antique
SOLD FOR: $5,000.00
LSB#: LSB251101KD008
Make: Colt
Model: 1877 Double Action Revolver “Lightning” .38
Serial Number: 1904
Year of Manufacture: 1877 / Antique
Caliber: .38 Long Colt
Action Type: Double and Single Action Side Gate Loaded Revolver
Markings: The two-line barrel address reads “ COLT’S PT.F.A. MFG. CO./HARTFORD, CT,U.S.A.”. The serial number “1904” is stamped on the bottom front of the frame, trigger guard, barrel and heel of the backstrap. The ivory grips are numbered to the gun and marked “1904” in pencil. The rear face of the cylinder also has the serial number stamped. The patent date lines and the etched panel have been covered with the engraving.
Engraving: The revolver is finished with aftermarket full coverage deep relief pin-dot scroll engraving. Virtually all of the metal surfaces are engraved including the barrel, frame, cylinder, top strap, loading gate, backstrap and trigger guard.
Barrel Length: 3 1/2”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a quarter-round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a v-notch integral to the top strap.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The grips are One-piece Ivory grips. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Nickel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some erosion and pitting in the bore, particularly near the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7/ 10.
Most antique firearms have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the use of black powder. When fired, black powder reacts corrosively. NRA Antique Firearm Conditions Standards are quite lenient for bores. In some cases, the NRA standards disregarded the bore’s condition for collectors’ firearms.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 70% of its metal finish. Most of the balance is finish loss on the outside of the cylinder and frame. The nickel finish is turning to frost throughout. There is some oxidation on the frame under the cylinder. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with serviceable slots. The barrel address is clear but the serial numbers are beginning to fade. Overall, this revolver rates in Fine condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up with minor play 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 double action revolver was manufactured from 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 .38 Long Colt “Lightning”, the .41 Long Colt “Thunderer”, and the .32 Long Colt “Rainmaker”. The M1877 was designed by one of the inventors of the M1873 Single Action Army, William Mason. It was Colt’s first double-action revolver, and was also the first successful US-made double-action cartridge revolver. Although mechanically more delicate than the SAA, the M1877 was widely adopted by civilians, lawmen, and frontier figures during the closing decades of the 19th century.
This particular revolver dates to the first year of production, and is chambered in .38. It has been extensively aftermarket engraved in a high-quality deep relief pin-dot scroll style, with nearly all exposed metal surfaces embellished, including the barrel, frame, cylinder, top strap, loading gate, backstrap, and trigger guard. The engraving is skillfully executed and visually dense. As a result of this work, the original patent dates and etched panel have been obscured. This scarce Lightning is also one of the short barrel, ejectorless M1877s known as the “Sheriff’s” or “Shopkeeper’s” models. With its 3.5″ barrel and lack of an ejector mechanism, it was easier to carry concealed or in a discrete manner compared to the longer barrel versions. It also features the long, checkered cylinder arbor pin that was typical of the ejectorless guns. This allowed the arbor pin to double as an ad hoc ejector rod when removed from the frame.
Condition reflects both age and use, with approximately 70% of the original nickel finish remaining and much of the balance turning to a frosted patina across the frame and cylinder. All of the serial numbers on the gun are matching, including the ivory grips. The bore is semi-bright with sharp rifling, though erosion and pitting are present near the muzzle, consistent with black powder use in an antique revolver of this type. The one-piece ivory grips remain in fine condition and complement the engraved surfaces well. Mechanically, the revolver functions correctly, with a smooth double action pull, crisp single action, and minor cylinder play under lockup. Please see our high quality photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck on your bids!!!
BF/MA
