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Value on a Colt 1877 Lightning

snoog37
Would anyone like to help me get this into the ballpark $?

1877 Lightning
Storekeeper model(?) - 3.5" barrel
DA 38 (straight cylinders)
Serial #164xxx
1908 mfr date(?)
Some scratches & slight wear on bottom of one grip side.
I've never fired it, but operates fine SA & DA.

colt1.th.jpg

colt2.th.jpg

Any thoughts on value?

Thanks for the help!...Eric snoog37 at gmail dot com
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • big mango
    parts/serial #'s match ??? and larger pic would help
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  • rufe-snow
    colt1.jpg

    colt2.jpg
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  • snoog37
    Yes all the S/N's match up.

    I can take more (and larger) photos if needed. Just let me know of what/where.

    Thanks for the help!
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  • v35
    It looks to be in VG condition. What's the bore and chamber condition?
    The cylinder pin is for the ejector model. Yours should have a longer, knurled forward end to grip while pushing out fired cases.
    These guns are mostly found in beat, overpolished condition with the single action feature
    needing repair.
    My guess of value is around $1,000.
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  • COLT
    ...Careful with shooting or dry fireing in DA mode, being the first American made DA the technology was not the best and the inside looks like a damn watch; VERY easy to break a part, usually a certain spring, and most pistol smiths will not work on them.

    ...Call Colt, give them the number and they will tell you year it was born, free, send Colt $100 bucks and you will get a letter from them giving you more info, date manf...where the gun went when it first left the factory etc...usually, you can recoup the price of the letter when you sell it, sometimes. IF the gun went to someone "special", individual or outfit, you hit a little bigger jackpot, you just never know.

    I know a guy that made a new, different style spring for his that replaced the spring that usually breaks...and now he shoots his regularly, of course this kills the collector value, to each thier own.

    ...Condition obviously plays a big part in value, and the barrel length on these too, just depends on the collector really.
    $7-$800 bucks in the condition it appears, if all numbers match and there is no rust, or pitting in the bore, if there is some rust I'd say closser to $600+/-...if the rust/pitting is minimal...[;)]

    ...Just noticed what V35 just saw..the knurled cylinder rod instead of the ejecter rod...may have been changed, I don't know a lot about these older ones. IF the ejecter rod and shroud have been removed (?) collectors just lost interest; on the other hand if it's a "rare" model..you may have something...I just don't know enough about these to be sure about that...you can only see the rod shroud in my pic.

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  • rufe-snow
    I was just going over my references regarding your 1877. At that point in time, circa 1907/08. Colt was just assembling the remaining 1877's from parts on hand, that they had made years previously. Actually many of the 1877's during this time period, weren't even being sold. They were being given away free, as what are called by collectors, "Tobacco Premium Colts", i.e. if you bought enough Cigars, you got a free Model 1877.

    Being at the absolute tail end of production, it's possible that Colt just ran out of ejector parts. And assembled your 1877 with the remaining parts they had on hand.
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  • bobski
    historic note...this model gun was most popular out west in the gold rush days. just about everyone had one because they were cheap.
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  • v35
    For comparable value perspective in 1909, Sears sold the 1877 in 38 for
    $11.60 and the 41 Long Colt for $12.95. S&W Hand Ejectors in 32L went for $12. and in 38L $14.. Colt New Police showed comparable prices to S&W prices. Colt SAAs went for $13.90.
    Yours is a true Sheriff's or Storekeeper's Model since the ejector frame boss doesn't exist.
    The single action feature is often out of order on these guns while double action is more sturdy and is likely to work. If yours both work that's a plus to add to sharp frame edges and screw slots, some original blue and no refinish, making it a desirable collectible.
    Despite the nightmarish internal design and faulty single action system, most of these guns have seen a great deal of external wear.
    Billy The Kid popularized the 1877 Colt.
    I reload for and fire my two 41s. They give satisfying recoil and reasonable accuracy.
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