Rare Colt DA Model 1878 .45 Caliber Mother-of-Pearl Grips Mirror-Bright Barrel
Colt double-action Model 1878, Category D firearm, available for sale to adults only, sold without accessories.
History
The Colt Model 1878 double-action black powder revolver is one of the iconic revolvers produced by the Colt Manufacturing Company. Like the Colt Single Action Army, it was produced in numerous variations, differing in caliber, barrel length, and finish. Thanks to its innovations—notably its double-action mechanism—it achieved some success in the American West, though it never supplanted the famous Colt SAA, nicknamed Peacemaker. The Colt 1878 double-action revolver was marketed under the names Frontier and Omnipotent. It was produced from 1878 to 1905, with a total of 51,210 units manufactured. It was the first Colt double-action revolver chambered for high-powered calibers, primarily .44-40 Winchester (Frontier model) and .45 Colt.
Our Model
According to the definitive reference work, *Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878* (page 223) by Don Wilkerson, only 78 examples in .45 caliber with a mother-of-pearl grip have been recorded, of which only 9 were equipped with a 7.5" barrel and a blued finish.
This Colt Model 1878 double-action revolver is an exceptional collector's item, both for its rarity and impeccable mechanical condition, as well as its remarkable aesthetic preservation. The metal parts still retain a significant proportion of their original finish, which is particularly rare. The markings are clear, consistent, and easily legible, notably the famous "foal" engraved on the frame, a detail often worn away on older examples. The serial number 41XXX corresponds to a fine late production, dated 1899.
Its mechanics are excellent, in both single and double action, without any issues. The revolver has no play in the action, nor any cylinder gap. The indexing is perfect and the firing pin strikes cleanly. The 7.5-inch barrel, chambered in .45 caliber, is in exceptional condition, with a mirror-bright bore, guaranteeing excellent accuracy when firing black powder ammunition. The screw heads are intact, a sign of a well-preserved firearm. This elegant revolver is fitted with rare mother-of-pearl grips, perfectly fitted to the frame.
In this rare configuration and in such a state of preservation, this historic revolver deserves a place of honor in any collection of antique black powder firearms.
This firearm is supplied with the certificate from the Saint-Étienne proof house and its classification in Category D.
Additional information
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