Collectible Colt Model 1877 Double Action Revolver, .38 Caliber, Black Powder

Colt Revolver – Double Action Model 1877 Lightning

Manufacture: 1902 – Caliber: .38 Long Colt – Untouched original condition

An elegant Colt Double Action Model 1877 Lightning in beautiful original condition, featuring flawless mechanics and a highly desirable 6-inch "mirror-finish" barrel. An authentic American collector's piece emblematic of the Frontier era.

History

The Colt Lightning 1877 was the first double-action revolver designed by Colt. Inspired by the famous Colt Single Action Army (SAA), it adopted similar lines but in a more compact, modern format. Although Colt had shown interest in double-action mechanisms as early as the 1850s, the advent of the metallic cartridge enabled its large-scale development. Mechanically more complex than single-action revolvers, the Lightning was also more delicate to maintain. Despite this, it achieved significant commercial success, with over 165,000 units produced. This model marked a decisive milestone in Colt's history and paved the way for the widespread adoption of double-action revolvers.

Our Model

This Colt Double Action Model 1877 Lightning in .38 Long Colt is in excellent original condition. The metal parts retain significant traces of the original Colt bluing in the most protected areas, while the rest of the firearm displays an elegant, perfectly uniform light patina. Several screws retain their original "fire-blue" finish, and all are in excellent condition. The Colt markings are perfectly crisp and deeply struck. The matching serial number 123XXX—found on the frame, trigger guard, butt, and cylinder—confirms a 1901 date of manufacture, guaranteeing the authenticity of this specimen. The gutta-percha grips, featuring the famous Colt "prancing pony" monogram, are entirely original, perfectly fitted, and in excellent condition, showing a light patina consistent with the weapon's age.

Mechanically, the revolver performs remarkably well: the single- and double-action mechanisms are perfectly smooth, with precise indexing, firm lockup, a powerful hammer strike, and absolutely no play or cylinder gap. Its 6-inch .38 Long Colt barrel features a near-mirror bore with deep, crisp rifling, showing only very minor signs of use.

A superb Colt Double Action Model 1877 Lightning, combining authenticity, excellent mechanical condition, and one of the most iconic silhouettes among Old West revolvers.

The weapon is sold with its classification certificate designating it as a Category D historical firearm, issued by the Saint-Étienne National Proof House.