Original Item: Only One Available The romance around Colt "Cowboy" Revolvers never ceases to amaze us. This is very nice "dressed up" Nickel-plated example of the Model 1877 "Thunderer" Double Action .41 Caliber Revolver, with custom bone grips. This is the same model that was carried by "Billy the Kid", and being a third year produced example, it is right from that era! It is marked on the bottom of the grip, frame, and trigger guard with serial number 17450, indicating it was made in 1879. It also has assembly number 777 stamped on the loading gate, and really just looks fantastic.

The M1877 was offered from the factory in two basic finishes: nickel-plated or a case-hardened frame with a blue barrel and cylinder. The revolver was available in barrel lengths from 2.5" to 7.5" and was available with or without the ejector rod and housing. The shorter barreled versions without the ejector rod were marketed as "shopkeeper's specials".

This example has the shortest length 2 1/2" barrel, and is Nickel-plated, though it is not entirely clear if it was done at the factory or not. It is still very well retained, showing a bit of oxidation haze overall. It is a "Shopkeeper's Special" with no ejector rod installed, and is still clearly marked on the top of the barrel with the Colt address:

COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co.
HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.

It also still has all of the original patent markings on the left side of the frame under the cylinder, however they are partly faded, possibly from a mis-stamp:

PAT. SEPT 19.1871.
'' '' [5.''74.]
'' [JAN.19.''75.]

This is a relatively early production example, made before the "Prancing Pony" stamp was added to the side of the frame. The fading makes us suspect it was expertly refinished at some point. possibly when the custom grips were added, but it is also possibly a mis-stamp.

The M1877 revolvers were marketed under different names such as "LIGHTNING" to appeal to different groups of customers. Although all were of the same basic design, they were also referred to as "THUNDERERS", "RAINMAKERS", and SHERIFF'S MODELS" as well, depending on the caliber and configuration. None of these names were Colt designations, nor used by the factory in any reference materials of the time. All of these terms were coined by Benjamin Kittredge, one of Colt's major distributors. Kittredge was responsible for the terms "Peacemaker" for the Single Action Army, "Omnipotent" for the Colt M1878 double-action (often known as the "Frontier" model), and nicknames for the various chamberings of the New Line models. This example has a very faint COLT D. A. 41 etching on the left side of the barrel, and is stamped 41 CAL. on the left side of the trigger guard so it is definitely a "Thunderer."

We purchased this revolver as a "THUNDERER" and it is in very good working order, with a lovely lightly aged patina on the nickel plating. There are only a few spots where it is eroded through, and there is only a bit of light rusting. The trigger still has lots of the original blued finish, with a bit more wear on the hammer. The bone grips are in great shape, showing some discoloration from age, and just a bit of scuffing on the bottom.

The revolver functions very well in both single and double action, with very little slop in the mechanics. It indexes great, the cylinder lockup is strong, and it has a crisp dry fire, though double action does require a strong trigger pull. The cylinder arbor pin pulls out correctly, allowing the cylinder to be removed. We checked the bore, and it is in very good condition, showing clear lands and grooves with a mostly bright finish. There are just a few spots of oxidation in the grooves.

The "Lightning" was the favored 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. 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.

A great short barrel example of an early Cartridge Colt Revolver in .41 caliber in very good "dressed up" condition. An ANTIQUE "cowboy" revolver made in 1879, Ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1879
Caliber: .41 "Long" Colt
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 2 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 7 inches
Action: Double/Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver