Pall Mall London Colt 1877 Lightning Etched .38 LC Revolver, 1882 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1301
LSB#: 210507DP01
Make: Colt
Model: 1877 Lightning
Serial Number: 39167
Year of Manufacture: 1882 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .38 Long Colt
Action Type: Single Action/Double Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is etched “COLT. D. A. 38”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A. / DEPOT 14 PALL MALL LONDON.”, the bottom is marked “J” under the cylinder pin head. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 / “ “ 15, “ 74. / “ JAN. 19, “ 75.”. The underside of the frame at the grip frame, the front of the trigger guard just behind it and the front underside edge of the backstrap are marked “39167”. The rear face of the frame under the hammer is marked “Z” and “2”, the left of the trigger guard is marked “38 CAL”, the rear of the loading gate has assembly number “4”. The rear of the cylinder is marked “167”. There are British proof marks behind each cylinder flute.
Barrel Length: 3 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V” groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered black hard rubber on a bird’s head grip frame, with a Rampant Colt in an oval at the top of each panel. The grips have some handling wear, more notable on the right panel than the left, and some scattered light nicks and scratches. The left panel’s checkering is generally well defined, the right’s checkering is worn, but mostly visible. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good-Fine condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with strong rifling. There is some scattered light erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 40% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has scattered finish wear and light surface oxidation with strongest finish on the top. The cylinder has strongest finish in the flutes with most of the outside showing light surface oxidation. The frame has strong case color to each side of the hammer, in the rear sight groove on the topstrap, and in front of the cylinder with other areas mostly gone to a light patina. The grip frame has wear in the grip areas, but retains strong blue in the flats on the sides, top and around the trigger, the worn areas show discoloration from oxidation. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Fine condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up tight with no play when the trigger is depressed. The double action trigger is fairly smooth. The single action trigger has a little creep and is a little heavy. 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: 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 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 a particularly uncommon example, with its Pall Mall London barrel address and British proof marks. It’s in great condition for a 140 year old gun. It retains about 40% of its factory blue & case color finish, a decent bore, strong mechanics, and still has clear markings including the etched panel on the barrel. This would be a great addition to a Colt collection. Please see our photos and good luck!