Click here to print this page.

1901 Vintage Colt Model 1877 Lightning Double-Action Revolver in .38 Long Colt ** All-Matching, All-Original, & 100% Functional **SOLD** Guns International #: 101794074 Seller's Inventory #: CM19-1640 Category: Colt Revolvers - Lightning - Colt Pistols Seller's Information When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com Seller: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc. Company: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc. Member Since: 4/27/15 State: Kentucky Zip: 40503 Country: United States Phone: (859) 276-1419 Fax: (859) 278-0838 Platinum Seller Number of Active Listings: 190 Total Number of Listings: 14879 Seller: FFL Dealer Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns. Payment Types Accepted: Visa,Master Card, Discover,Check Description: This is an honest all-matching and original Colt Model 1877 Lightning revolver chambered in .38 Long Colt with a 4.5" inch barrel.  This Colt Lightning was built in 1901 and remains 100% functional.  The DA/SA Colt Model 1877 was first introduced in 1877 and remained in production until 1909, with more than 166,000 manufactured.  It was offered in .32 Colt, .38 Long Colt, and .41 Colt, and in multiple barrel lengths and with and without ejectors.  This DA/SA revolver was the only fixed cylinder double-action revolver that Colt ever produced, and the nicknames "Rainmaker" for the .32, "Lightning" for the .38, and "Thunderer" for the .41 were given to the guns by dealers promoting the revolvers rather than the Colt company itself.  Unfortunately, despite the Model 1877's good looks the early double-action design was delicate, intricate, and very difficult to repair.  The trigger spring was particularly failure-prone, leaving the revolver single-action only.  Ultimately it was these faults that made the Model 1877 unpopular and doomed the design.  This particular Colt Lightning is serial number 129281, and it features a factory blue and case-colored finish, a 4.5" inch barrel with an ejector rod, a 6-shot long-fluted cylinder, and factory checkered black hard rubber grips on the standard bird's head grip.  The original factory blue finish on the grip frame, triggerguard, barrel, and cylinder is almost entirely gone with a even gray patina showing in it's place. There are a few spots of blue finish still showing but they are all in the protected areas like the rear edge of the hammer, on the inside edge of the ejector housing, in the chambers of the cylinder, and in the recesses between parts.  The metal itself shows some small patches of shallow pin-prick pitting and numerous small handling marks/dings but no major damage or eyesores that stick out at you.  By far the worst of the damage to the metal is on the knurled head of the cylinder pin and the underside of the barrel, which looks like someone used pliers and a mallet to remove and/or replace the cylinder pin when it was stuck at some point.  The factory case colors on the frame have also all worn away to a gray patina that is very consistent with the rest of the gun.  Despite the lack of finish remaining, all of the factory markings on this Lightning are still in VERY good condition, fully-intact and 100% legible with clean edges.  All of the factory-applied serial numbers are nice and clear on all of the numbered parts, and all of the numbered parts are matching.  All of the screws and pins in this Colt are original and in good condition as well, with only some minor marring of some of the slots.  The bore in this Colt is good to very good with nicely-defined and sharp rifling from the forcing cone to the crown of the muzzle, with only a few scattered minor spots of shallow pitting.  This bore should still shoot just as accurately now as it did more than 100 years ago.  The six chambers of the cylinder are in great shape overall, clean and free from any major damage except for some tiny spots of pin-prick pitting.  Looking from the front of the cylinder using a light you can see that better than 75% of the original bright blue factory finish is still intact in the chambers!  The original grips on this Lightning are in good condition, free from any cracks, chips, or repairs.  Both grips show an equal amount of wear to the checkering and Rampant Colt medallions, which is consistent with the wear the rest of the gun exhibits.  The grips are a perfect match to each other in every way, and both grips fit the gun perfectly with seamless transitions from the metal to the hard rubber grips' edges.  As you can see in the pictures, this is an honest-looking and attractive gun with every single part showing a very consistent level of age and patina.  As mentioned before, this Colt Lightning is still in perfect working order with excellent mechanics.  The action is smooth and precise, and perfectly "in time" no matter how it is worked.  All of the controls are in perfect working order, and the hammer still has all three notches intact for the safety position, half-cock, and full-cock.  The loading gate snaps open and closed properly, and the cylinder pin and spring-loaded cylinder pin release work perfectly.  We have no doubt that this Colt would still function just as well today as it did 120 years ago!  If you are an admirer of guns that have actually been used, carried, and show a patina that was earned honestly, this 1901-production Colt Model 1877 Lightning would be an excellent addition to your collection.  Priced at $1050, this Colt Lightning is bargain for an all-matching, all-original, and fully-functional example.         SOLD Curio/Relic: Yes Handgun Caliber: .38 Long Colt Manufacturer: Colt Model: Model 1877 Lightning Serial Number: 129281 Barrel Length: 4.5" Inches Condition: Good Metal Condition: Average / Good Bore Condition: Very Good / Good Action: Double-Action / Single-Action Revolver Finish: Blued / Case Colored Sights: Fixed Iron Sights Manufacture Date: 1901