Colt M1877

Colt M1877
Colt M1877 "Lighting" and the Colt Peacemaker
Type	Revolver
Place of origin	USA
Production history
Produced	1877 (1877) to 1909 (1909)
Number built	166,849
Specifications
Cartridge	.32 Colt ('Rainmaker') .38 Long Colt ('Lightning') .41 Long Colt ('Thunderer')
Action	double action revolver
Feed system	Cylinder magazine

The Colt M1877 was a double action revolver manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company 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 were in their calibers: the "Lightning" being chambered in .38 Colt; the "Thunderer" in .41 Colt. Both models had a six-round ammunition capacity.^[1] An earlier model in .32 Colt known as the "Rainmaker" was offered in 1877.^[2]

The M1877 was designed by one of the inventors of the Colt Single Action Army, William Mason as Colt's first attempt at manufacturing a double-action revolver. Its early double-action mechanism proved to be both intricate and delicate, and thus prone to breakage.^[2] The design had a reputation for failure. Typically, this would reduce the revolver to single-action fire only. Because of the intricate design and difficulty of repair, gunsmiths disliked working on them.^[2] Gun Digest referred to it as "the worst double-action trigger mechanism ever made".^[3] Outwardly, the Model 1877 shows a striking resemblance to the Colt Single Action Army revolver. The standard finishes were blued, with case-coloured frame or nickel plating. The bird's head grips are of checkered rosewood on the early guns and hard rubber on the majority of later production runs.^[3]

"Lightning" caliber .38 Long Colt

The "Lightning" was the favoured personal weapon of famous Manchester (UK) Victorian detective and then head of CID, Jerome Caminada. Old West Outlaw John Wesley Hardin frequently used both "Lightning" and "Thunderer" versions of the Colt 1877 revolver.^[2] Likewise the 1877 "Thunderer"" in .41 caliber was the preferred weapon of Billy the Kid and was his weapon of choice when he was killed by Pat Garrett in 1881.^[4][5][6]

References

1. ^ Flayderman, Norm (2001). Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms... and their values. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. p. 669. ISBN 0-87349-313-3. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Herring, Hal (2008). Famous Firearms of the Old West: From Wild Bill Hickok's Colt Revolvers to Geronimo's Winchester, Twelve Guns That Shaped Our History. TwoDot. pp. 224. ISBN 0762745088. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Wood, JB (2001). The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: Revolvers. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. p. 576. ISBN 978-0873419239. 
4. ^ Boorman, Dean K. (2004). Guns of the Old West: An Illustrated History. Lyons Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-1592286386. 
5. ^ Wilson, RL (1992). Peacemakers: Arms and Adventure in the American West. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Publications. p. 392. ISBN 978-0785818922. 
6. ^ Kinard, Jeff (2004). "The Metallic Cartridge and the Modern Revolver". Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Weapons and warfare series. ABC-CLIO. p. 163. ISBN 9781851094707. 

External links

• The Colt Revolver in the American West—Model 1877 Lightning