Did I get a couple of Colt 1877 DAs (AKA:Lightning)? Picture Heavy

Andy Griffith · May 8, 2010

Well fellers...
I got a couple of good ones...I think today.

I got to talking with a feller at the store today, and he heard I like guns, and he had a couple of .38's he wanted to part with...(this has become almost a trite occurrence, hasn't it?)
I told him to bring them by this evening.

Well, he did.
I bought them.

Now, tell me about these things...

These are seem to be a smaller frame...I don't know if these are true "Lightnings" or not. Both are marked ".38" so I suppose these are in .38 Long Colt. I do seem to remember that these guns have fragile actions, so I only actioned each one once just to see if they worked fine- which both locked up as tight as a modern gun.

Bores and cylinders are perfect on both.

The longer barreled one is in the #10,xxx range
The short barreled "storekeeper" is in the #96,xxx range.

Here are a few pictures:

I just took a look on a couple of the auction sites, and I don't see any with as much original casehardening and fire blue finish as these two- when oiled, it really comes out. I think these are in above average condition for their age- not even the screws have been messed with! Must have been drawer guns

feralmerril · May 8, 2010

The .38 colts are "lightings", same gun in .41 colt is called the "thunderer". It is said they have very delicut mechanisims and are supposedly hard to work on. I once owned this lighting. Probley the more proper name is 1877 colt double action. It is also the 1st double action colt made. Billy the kid and john westley hardin carried them.

Andy Griffith · May 8, 2010

I repaired the title.

I'm just not up on these off-brand guns.

truckemup97 · May 9, 2010

Looks like you did well. I wish people walked up to me and asked if I wanted all their old guns....

2152hq · May 9, 2010

Those are two great condition revolvers!

Haven't seen a couple in that nice shape in a while.
Yes the actions are somewhat fragile. The 3-legged action spring that powers the sear, hand and bolt breaks quite often and the locking bolt cam arm breaks off quite regularly too.
Better to keep in collectable condition than trying to use as a shooting piece. Parts are difficult to find and expensive when you do. Fitting is difficult. Repro bolts are available but not the best quality.
I sold most all of my Lightning parts but kept a few springs and screws. I still wonder why. They are not fun to work on.

Lightning & Thunderer were nicknames given to the pistols by one of Colt's distributors,,Kittredge & Co in Cinncinatti. They also nicknamed the larger 1878 DA the 'Omnipotent'.
More people remember Lighning & Thunderer than the 1877 Model designation. Not sure about Omnipotent though..

Yours are cal 38 Long Colt. 38Spec wad cutters will most likely fit but if you do shoot the guns, I'd advise against using any 38Special ammo. The guns were last made in 1909/10.

wlmccann · May 9, 2010

Andy Griffith, you have a real find. Lightnings in that condition are hard to come by. Feralmerril, I will definitely confirm from personal experience they ARE hard to work on. I can work on and repair V spring Colts with no problem. Lightnings are a pain. I remember a story about Frank Pachmayr getting so frustrated trying to repair one that he took it out front of the original LA store and threw it across the street. The story also relates that Augie Pachmayr made Frank go get it.

Andy Griffith · May 9, 2010

What do yall think they are worth apiece?

truckemup97 · May 9, 2010

As nice as those are? $800 to $1k each, around here. You don't find them that nice very often, though. If the short barrel is factory, that may be worth more. Not having seen one for sale, I'm really not sure.

Actually, forget all that. They're junk, but being the nice guy I am, I'll give you $500 for the pair.

handejector · May 9, 2010

You dog.

Lightning and Thunderer, as stated above, are the best known names for the 77.
The Storekeeper is very valuable, the other quite so also. Condition is the driving force here- they are both very nice.
If you must shoot them so you can say you have, shoot the longer with 38 LC only for a few rounds, clean it up, and forget it.
BIG score there, brother.

Andy Griffith · May 9, 2010

I really appreciate the offer my friend from Oklahoma...but I think they'll stay in Georgia.

Lee, I won't be shooting these things- I'm too scared to even think about it. I only actioned them one time each- gently to only see if they even worked. Thank you for the gracious compliment!

I will be honest- when the feller pulled them out of a couple of brown bags, I could hardly keep my composure.

handejector · May 9, 2010

Sorry,
I forgot the

after "You dog"

BLACKHAWKNJ · May 9, 2010

They are tricky to work on, although Believe It Or Not I actually succesfully disassembled and reassembled one-beginner's luck. Never fired it. Traded it off.

Did I get a couple of Colt 1877 DAs (AKA:Lightning)? Picture Heavy

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