? Judge Colt/Ranchero Paul re: unusual 1877 Colt
Thank you in advance for your comments:
I have just purchased a quite unusual M-1877 Colt Lightning/Thunderer.
This arm came w/ Colt letter from: Charles Coles. The pistol in question is a M-1977 in .41/C. The barrel length is 10". All else falls within my other Colt M-1877. No ejector housing. Colt letter states: Colt Double Action Model 1877
Caliber: 41/C
Barrel Length: 10"
Finish: Blue
Type of Stocks: Not Listed (typical) but are Hard Rubber
Shipped to: Colt's Patent Firearms Company
Address: Hartford, CT
Date of Shipment: July 31, 1888
Number of Same Type Guns in Shipment: 1
Remarks: As noted, this firearms(sp error) was delivered to Colt's. We can only assume that the company used these firearms for display or promtional purposes.
The pistol is in a unbelievable condition. Blue (strong) 98% with a tiny amount of cholocate color. The case colors are 100% but getting less vibrant lower on the frame. Screws are a peacock color. The etched panel is vibrant. Bore and chambers are truly mint. Some tiny freckles on back grip strap. Sides of hammer are bright. The box, may or may not be original-but is a paste board type of configuration. Stocks to please the Judge, a 99.9%, sharp diamonds.
I have never seen nor heard of a M-1877 w/ this barrel length.
A guess on the sales value and any comments are much appreciated. 101
I have just purchased a quite unusual M-1877 Colt Lightning/Thunderer.
This arm came w/ Colt letter from: Charles Coles. The pistol in question is a M-1977 in .41/C. The barrel length is 10". All else falls within my other Colt M-1877. No ejector housing. Colt letter states: Colt Double Action Model 1877
Caliber: 41/C
Barrel Length: 10"
Finish: Blue
Type of Stocks: Not Listed (typical) but are Hard Rubber
Shipped to: Colt's Patent Firearms Company
Address: Hartford, CT
Date of Shipment: July 31, 1888
Number of Same Type Guns in Shipment: 1
Remarks: As noted, this firearms(sp error) was delivered to Colt's. We can only assume that the company used these firearms for display or promtional purposes.
The pistol is in a unbelievable condition. Blue (strong) 98% with a tiny amount of cholocate color. The case colors are 100% but getting less vibrant lower on the frame. Screws are a peacock color. The etched panel is vibrant. Bore and chambers are truly mint. Some tiny freckles on back grip strap. Sides of hammer are bright. The box, may or may not be original-but is a paste board type of configuration. Stocks to please the Judge, a 99.9%, sharp diamonds.
I have never seen nor heard of a M-1877 w/ this barrel length.
A guess on the sales value and any comments are much appreciated. 101
0
-
What a Great Addition to a Collection! I wouldn't even attempt to "value" this gun......but you already have! It is definitely worth what you paid for it! Judge Colt may have an idea.....I don't because my interests are primarily the Double Action Revolvers from about 1900 to Present.....leaving me a little lacking in info because this is an earlier gun. But, it sounds as if you are "disappointed" because of its barrel length....so, just take it to your Dealer, I'll send him a File Copy of an FFL and Shipping Money. Just send it off to me and I'll rub its barrel a while and you will be relieved of this troublesome responsibility......Good Luck!
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0 -
RP and I share similar periods of interest. I like the "modern" Colts and Smith & Wessons from about 1900 into the 1960s, with primary interest Pre-War. I have little knowledge about antiques.
Finding a non-standard but original factory item like a 10-inch Thunderer is beyond comprehension to me, especially in the condition described. My, what a find. I am reasonably sure it is one-of-a-kind.
As for value, I have little expertise in that area on something like this. Were it a SAA, its value probably would buy a luxury car. As it is, assuming it is not a refinished gun, I think its value could buy a nice used car. When you get well into the four-figure value area, the number of buyers drops off quickly, but they are there. If you want to sell, take it to a big collector's show, or to the Colt Collectors show, and look for a Lightening/Thunderer collector. Were I one, I would probably mortgage the farm to get this unusual item.0 -
Thanks for asking about the Ranchero. I drove him into the yard with the right rear dragging......winterized it and wrapped it in a huge tarp, used about 500 feet of rope and packaged it up for the winter. I am planning on getting it out fairly soon, but I think only to part out.
Now to your gun. My Data Base shows a lot more than I thought so bear with me. Here's what it says about this one:
This was the first production issue of a double action gun made by Colt. Basically, they took the Single Action Army and reduced the frame size keeping the basic calibers. They then redesigned the action into a double action mechanism. The used the so-called Birdshead grip contour to impart a stylish appearance to the profile of the gun. These guns were very complicated in their mechanism and the Gunsmiths of the time cursed the 1877 Models and branded them as "unrepairable." Reassembly was a nightmare, and any collector that owns a broken one might just forget about ever having it repaired. These were "Fragile" guns requiring a lot gentler handling than they were used to getting. When the 1878 came out it was on a much larger frame and was a much tougher gun all around.
Total Production of these guns was 166,849 with the beginning serial number being #1. They were made from 1877 until 1909. Barrel lengths for the gun without ejector were 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, 4, 4 1/2, 5 3/8, 5 1/2, and 6 inches. Guns with an ejector, like yours should have, came in 4 1/2, 5, 5 3/8, 6, 7, 7 1/2, 8, and 10 inches. The only gun rated as "extremely rare" by Colt was the guns chambered in 32 Long and Short Colt, which appeared in serial number ranges from 66000 to 121000, as there was only about 200 made in this caliber. It does say that the "Rarest Barrel Lengths" are the 1 1/2, 2 and 6 inch guns without the ejector, and the guns with 7 inch or longer barrels with the ejector.
About grips, well, here's what it says:
Checkered one-piece rosewood grips were standard on early pistols; checkered hard rubber with the rampant colt within an oval were standard stocks for nickel-plated revolvers, and were standard for both blued and nickeled arms after c. 1882. Ivory and pearl grips were available on order; a few were monogrammed, or relief carved with steerhead, Mexican or American eagle motifs; a few were checkered or etched. Checkered ivory grips were also produced. Plain walnut and rosewood also were available, but seldom were ordered. Also one-piece hard rubber grips were produced, but are extremely rare.
Hope this helps a bit. Not much more I can tell from my Data Base at this time.......Enjoy that gun, as it probably is "one of a kind" in the condition you say it has. Unable to place a value at all for you.......it wouldn't even be an "UN-Educated Guess!"
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0 -
Thank you RancheroPaul and JudgeColt.
Guess I will keep it for the time being. Steve0 -
Wouldn't ya Know! I had a borrowed 20 dollar bill and an FFL copy all ready, too! Just needed your e-mail address.....Hahahahah....Have a great weekend!
"Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
5 comments