1877 lightning

2377 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by N743TC, Oct 21, 2013

tony56

Discussion Starter · Oct 18, 2013

Does anyone know how long colt fitted checkerd roswood grips to the 1877s. this is the only one ive owned.
shipped to london april 1878

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muddyboot

· #2 · Oct 18, 2013

I don't know the answer to your question, but your lightning is a real beauty, look's to be
in excellent condition for it's age.

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tony56

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 18, 2013

muddyboot said:
I don't know the answer to your question, but your lightning is a real beauty, look's to be
in excellent condition for it's age.

Thanks for that,yes it is,the picture doesnt show the true condition,case colors are near 100%, barrel blue is little thin, but rest of the blue is vivid,grips show no ware and still nice red in color.

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saintclair

· #4 · Oct 19, 2013

tony56: Did you see the pictures of my 1877 that I posted a couple weeks ago? I will post two of them again since our guns are so much alike.

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tony56

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 19, 2013 (Edited)

saintclair said:
tony56: Did you see the pictures of my 1877 that I posted a couple weeks ago? I will post two of them again since our guns are so much alike.

Wow, no i did not see them, that a nice little lightning. my sn is just 200 from your's.wouldnt they make a nice pair.yours stayed in the state's and mine went across the atlantic to london town.thanks for posting again.
could you post a link so i can have a look at more photo's thanks.

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swamprat

· #6 · Oct 19, 2013

My Thunderer was shipped in 1901:

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Calibre 38

· #7 · Oct 19, 2013

Here are a couple of Lightning/Thunderer's in 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4 1/2 and 6 1/2" barrels....Jim

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elliotf

· #8 · Oct 19, 2013

tony56 said:
Does anyone know how long colt fitted checkerd roswood grips to the 1877s. this is the only one ive owned.
shipped to london april 1878

The only information I can find in answer to your question is out of Peer's Book. Rosewood stocks were standard on Blue model 1877's through early 1881 then special order only since they were expensive to make and fit compared to the two piece rubber stocks.

Great looking 1877.

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tony56

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 20, 2013 (Edited)

A couple more photo's of my lightning,im not a good photographer though, lol.
If you look close you can just make out the tiny brit proof on the cyl chambers and just above the cyl pin on the underside of barrel.

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saintclair

· #10 · Oct 20, 2013

Tony: That is a very good picture. I can see the British proofmark very well.
I would become more excited about collecting more of these small revolvers (as compared to SAA's) if I had not watched my favorite gunsmith try to repair several that would no longer function properly. He put a lot of work in on them to get a couple back in reasonable working order, just to have them returned by the owner after he took them out and shot them a few time. I still recall some of his comments when the guns were returned for re-repair. They are not easy to repair.

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tony56

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 20, 2013

saintclair said:
Tony: That is a very good picture. I can see the British proofmark very well.
I would become more excited about collecting more of these small revolvers (as compared to SAA's) if I had not watched my favorite gunsmith try to repair several that would no longer function properly. He put a lot of work in on them to get a couple back in reasonable working order, just to have them returned by the owner after he took them out and shot them a few time. I still recall some of his comments when the guns were returned for re-repair. They are not easy to repair.

Yes i also watched a friend pull one apart to repair a spring years ago,apparently gunsmiths hate working on them.

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N743TC

· #12 · Oct 21, 2013

Great guns to all of you.
Yes they are a bear to work on, as most of us know they were called the watch/clock makers nightmare. But they are oh so pretty to look at. Plus like the New Army DA’s I’m working on now parts are tough to come by.
Anyone know where I can get parts for a Lightning/Thunderer & New Army/Navy DA .38, (other than Numrich) I would appreciate a shout at [email protected].
I bought my Lightning from Will Barsalow at [email protected]. All or some of the proceeds from his stuff goes into care packages for US troops overseas.
The photos don’t show it but the screws are fire blue.