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What are the chances that a Colt Lightning shipped in 1878 had factory Ivory?

2K views 14 replies 10 participants last post by  SteveR 
#1 · (Edited)
I just purchased a Colt Lightning with serial number falling in the second year of production. It has one piece Ivory grips that fit perfectly and appear to have possibly been on the pistol since birth. How likely are they to be factory installed? There is no Colt letter with it.
 

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#4 · (Edited)
My early guns with One-piece ivory grips:
#1046 38x3-1/2" Nickel, Colt letter says SNL, shipped 5/24/77.
#2191 41x6" Nickel, No Eject, Colt letter says Ivory, shipped 10/4/77.
#3527 41x6" Nickel, No Eject, Colt letter says Ivory, shipped 7/3/79.
#6490 41x5", Nickel, W/Eject, Colt letter not requested.
#6599 41x5", Nickel, Engraved, W/Eject, Colt letter says Ivory, shipped 5/9/78.

Also, based on the first 21 years of production (39547 guns sampled) 939 had factory recorded ivory grips (slightly over 2%). Total prod at end of 1897 was 107,500.

One final statistic; During 1877-79, 380 Colt M1877 DA's had Ivory out of 19,000 produced guns (Oh, and look at that! 2% Again).
 
#11 · (Edited)
It's harder to say with any certainly about two-piece ivory or pearl. Again, during the first 21 years of production, 2% of this Colt model had factory Ivory. During the same time period 4% were fitted with pearl grips at the factory.

I have seen some very high quality and perfectly-fitted two piece pearl and ivory grips on these guns.
 
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