I'm your huckleberry - Colt Lightning

sigp220.45 · Oct 16, 2018

I've always liked these, but never found one that had the magical combination of a decent price and a functioning action, until today.

Its been around the block a few times since 1901, but it still works. The bore is good. Still a few traces of bluing on the trigger guard and grip strap.

The grips are perfect.

It shoots the mighty .38 Long Colt.

Numbers match everywhere.

No locking notches on the outside of the cylinder. They stuck them in here:

It is striking how small this thing is. Ruger Bearcat sized, almost.

I stopped at Cabelas on the way home. Remington is currently loading .38 Short Colt ammo, but there was none to be found. I guess I'll order some, and let this old boy bark a little.

snuffy51 · Oct 16, 2018

I like this kind of stuff, never found one I could afford. Hope it shoots well.

Rudi · Oct 16, 2018

I believe that was a favorite gun of Billy the Kid. Very nice piece.

usmc2427765 · Oct 16, 2018

I hope Billy carried a serious backup revolver !!

mauser9 · Oct 16, 2018

Wow nice find. Love these old Colts. Thanks for sharing it!

Ivan the Butcher · Oct 17, 2018

Dad took one apart before I was born in 1956 and it still isn't back together! (I know that when working on the innards, use a padded vise and mount the top strap in it upside down! That leaves two hands free, but some say you need more than that!)

Ivan

merl67 · Oct 17, 2018

Nice find, I too would love to find one of these in shooting condition at a price I could justify.

alwslate · Oct 17, 2018

Amazing! Another reservation find? Bet you wish it could talk.

MCorps0311 · Oct 17, 2018

Wow that's a classic.

Iggy · Oct 17, 2018

sigp220.45

That is a Jim Dandy Colt.

I have the Thunderer model which is the .41 caliber version, given to me by the last train robber in Wyoming.

raljr1 · Oct 17, 2018

Iggy said:
I have the Thunderer model which is the .41 caliber version, given to me by the last train robber in Wyoming.

Iggy, we need to hear "the rest of the story."

Robert

vonn · Oct 17, 2018

Range report would be awesome! Very nice!

Watchdog · Oct 17, 2018

Iggy said:
I have the Thunderer model which is the .41 caliber version, given to me by the last train robber in Wyoming.

Are you talking about Bill Carlisle, shown below in the wanted poster, and on the right in the other photo, handcuffed to Sheriff Rubie Rivera at the Rawlins Courthouse in 1916?

If so, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to hear the story.

Watchdog · Oct 17, 2018

sigp220.45 said:
I've always liked these, but never found one that had the magical combination of a decent price and a functioning action, until today.

Its been around the block a few times since 1901, but it still works. The bore is good. Still a few traces of bluing on the trigger guard and grip strap.

The grips are perfect.

What a great find! It's beautiful, and the grips are simply too good to be true with their perfect depiction of the Rampant Colt.

That revolver is good for another 117 years. Congratulations on finding that one!

Xfuzz · Oct 17, 2018

Nice Colt...
Not sure if the info is accurate...but,
I always heard this model had a rep of
being a bit fragile.

Iggy · Oct 17, 2018

Bill Carlisle

Gunsights

Years later when I was in college, I lived in my Uncle's apartment house near Bill's Motel and use to stop in and visit with him often.

He sat at the cash register where he could see all of his curio shop and restaurant. He kept the old Colt on a shelf below the cash register. He wore a big old Stetson and looked for all the world like Elmer Keith when I knew him.

When he got old and frail, he sold the tourist trap and moved back to PA with his daughter.
He gave me the gun when he left left Laramie.

Watchdog · Oct 17, 2018

Iggy said:
Bill Carlisle

Gunsights

Years later when I was in college, I lived in an apartment house near Bill's Motel and use to stop in and visit with often.

He sat at the cash register where he could see all of his curio shop and restaurant. He kept the old Colt on a shelf below the cash register. He wore a big old Stetson and looked for all the world like Elmer Keith when I knew him.

When he got old and frail, he sold the tourist trap and moved back to PA with his daughter.

He gave me the gun when he left left Laramie.

Thanks for telling that.

And thanks for the link! Great story that everyone here should read!

one eye joe · Oct 17, 2018

sigp220.45 said:
I've always liked these, but never found one that had the magical combination of a decent price and a functioning action, until today.

Its been around the block a few times since 1901, but it still works. The bore is good. Still a few traces of bluing on the trigger guard and grip strap.

The grips are perfect.

It shoots the mighty .38 Long Colt.

Numbers match everywhere.

No locking notches on the outside of the cylinder. They stuck them in here:

It is striking how small this thing is. Ruger Bearcat sized, almost.

I stopped at Cabelas on the way home. Remington is currently loading .38 Short Colt ammo, but there was none to be found. I guess I'll order some, and let this old boy bark a little.

CONGRATULATIONS ! ! ! THAT IS A SWEET COLT M1877 REVOLVER---ONE OF MY FAVORITE MODELS.....

INTERESTINGLY, NEITHER THE TERMS, "LIGHTNING", NOR "THUNDERER", WERE EVER USED BY THE COLT FACTORY TO REFERENCE THESE REVOLVERS. THE NAMES WERE COINED BY BENJAMIN KITTREDGE, ONE OF COLT'S MAJOR DISTRIBUTORS......

one eye joe · Oct 17, 2018

Xfuzz said:
Nice Colt...
Not sure if the info is accurate...but,
I always heard this model had a rep of
being a bit fragile.

THIS IS VERY TRUE. IT WAS NICKNAMED, "THE GUNSMITHS' FAVORITE".......

Iggy · Oct 17, 2018

They are delicate. My Thunderer has a cracked forcing cone.

I'm your huckleberry - Colt Lightning

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