For the .44 caliber version of the Single Action Army Revolver, see, The Colt Revolver in the American WestDouble Action Frontier, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colt_M1878&oldid=1137683780, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 23:12. The End. This Colt M-1878 Double Action Frontier Revolver is in about EXCELLENT condition and is accompanied by its period Mexican loop holster and cartridge belt, as well as a Colt Factory Letter. Shooters need to be careful with these old firearms. New . The top of the barrel is crisply marked in a single line as well and reads: COLTs PT. colt 1878 for sale and auction. Sell your colt 1878 for FREE today on GunsAmerica! At one time, the factory even modified Model 1878 cylinders for use in single action revolvers in an attempt to use up spare parts.[3]. The site then offers that the second contingent RCD/1CMR and onwards were equipped with the Colt New Service in . have lackluster performance and look small compared to the .45 Colt powerhouse. The Colt M1877 was a double-action revolver manufactured by Colt's Patent Fire Arms from January 1877 to 1909 for a total of 166,849 revolvers. Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM Surplus 2023, P.O. This article is about the Colt Model 1878. Colt were bringing into production their own lever action rifle the Colt Burgess of 1883 and were also introducing their Colt Lightning pump action rifles of 1884. Knowing the sky-rocketing prices of antique Colts, I examined it carefully before getting ready to turn it down. It is easy to see why the M1877 would be popular for concealment. Scarce Colt Model 1878 "OMNIPOTENT" Double Action RevolverColt M1878 DA Revolver with rare "OMNIPOTENT" markings acid-etched in an oval panel on the left side of the barrel. The Colt M1878 was known for its long hard double action pull which made accurate double action use difficult. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. This anonymous data helps us to better understand users' needs and customize the website accordingly. However, the leather remains supple and all of the original stitching is in place and tight. Area Code: 616. In desperation, Oppen sent competitors revolvers across the Atlantic so the Colt designers could see what they were up against in the European market. The double action revolver is not dramatically different in design than the single action revolver. The left grip panel has a minor stress crack at the top that is barely noticeable. Samuel Colt was ahead of the pack in many of his ideas and he had designed and patented a double action revolver way back in the 1850s, a patent that expired in 1857 and which Colt himself did not attempt to renew. I test-fired the Frontier Six-Shooter with a few boxes of Black Hills Cowboy Action Ammunition. The mark is applied with a roll die, and is not in an acid etched panel, as would be appropriate for the earlier production M-1878 revolvers. Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong. Youll find the story if you click here. M1855-M1863 US Springfield Muskets. Contest open to U.S. residents only. It cannot be used in Cowboy Action Shooting matches, despite being more historically accurate than a modern Single Action with a transfer bar and its age keeps it from working as a carry gun or shooter without the use of light black powder loads. (Courtesy of Heritage Auctions) When Sam Colt invented the first American revolver that worked when it was supposed to, one of the keys to its success was that its single-action, cap-and-ball mechanism had only four moving parts. The M-1878 was Colts first big bore double action revolver, but it still resembled the single action variants. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The total cost to restore the M1878 as a safe shooter came out to $395 including parts, labor and return shipping. COLT 1878 DOUBLE ACTION. The revolvers in our pictures above except for the M1878 Philippine model are coming up for sale by Rock Island Auction in their February 16th sale which accepts phone bidding and sealed bids. Sam Colt brought forth the first successful repeating firearm with the five-shot Paterson in 1836. An errant coil spring beneath the sear spring indicated that the sear spring might have issues and the grip alignment pin and mainspring tensioning screw were missing. 5 which was being made around the same time proved to be reliable and tended to be favored for officers wanting a double action revolver whilst the Colt Single Action Army was a revolver of choice for those favoring the single action. The 44 WCF round also went by the name 44-40 denoting a 44 caliber bullet loaded with 40 grains of black powder. The lockwork was more closely related to their previous M1877 design but the parts were larger, making for a more robust handgun. U.S.A. -(Ammoland.com)- One of those rare revolvers came into my grasp, but little did I know that picking up a $75 junker would result in restoring a Colt M1878 Frontier Six-Shooter in 44 WCF. 12 gauge double-barreled shotgun - A double-barreled shotgun used for self-defence and hunting (most probably a Charles Parker 1878 model). the same year this Lightning was made. playing cards perforated with a Colt 1877. Nevada Department of Wildlife, State Agency: This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. British Land Pattern Pistol; M1807 Harper's Ferry Pistol; M1816 North Pistol; Nickel was common as a finish, but blued examples are also readily found. A circular panel was provided on the left side of the frame to allow access to the mechanism. All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Colt first referred to this Revolver as the Ranger Size model, and then . They were not chambered in a major, man-stopping caliber like .45 Colt, .44-40, or .38-40 and they did not allow the interchangeable use of ammunition between the revolver and a rifle, like the .44-40 and .38-40 did. The Colt M1878 Frontier Six-Shooter fits a nice void in the authors collection of revolvers. Fourteen years of complaints about the heavy and still somewhat fragile trigger system prompted the Army to demand a longer trigger for more leverage and a heavier mainspring to handle the harder primers of military-issued ammunition. Of those, 12,789 were shipped out blued and sporting a 4-1/2" barrel and an ejector. 65 sold. The Colt M1877-packing Pearl Hart failed at being an outlaw but Mike has written over 2000 articles for several magazines, websites, and newsletters, including Blade, RECOIL, OFF-GRID, Tactical Officer, SWAT, Tactical World, Gun Digest, Examiner.com and the US Concealed Carry Association as well asAmmoLand Shooting Sports News. Youtube - Track the views of embedded videos. The use of the M1877 by police officers is well-documented by examples either stamped or inscribed by departments or individual officers. In the 1870s, the focus was on westward expansion and the U.S. Army was busy fighting the indigenous tribes west of the Mississippi. These guns are not cheap, and with any matching numbers, the value skyrockets. Color case harden lanyard swivel and loop. Mike Searsons career as a shooter began as a Marine Rifleman at age 17. . The Colt M1878 is a double-action revolver that was manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1878 to 1907. It has a nickel-plated buckle and the billet has 7 holes on 1 centers for adjustment. Jul 10, 2004 #1. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. The shorter-barreled Lightning was the perfect blend of power and concealment. No substitutions or transfers to third parties allowed. This revolver was a hybrid of the large frame Single Action Army revolver, combined with the lock work and birds head grip of the Lighting / Thunderer series. (I) Giveaway ends May 31, 2023. European officers wanted a large-caliber revolver with rapid-fire capabilities. many ways but falls short of being an exact replica. 600 Rounds Winchester 5.56 55Grain XM193 FMJ Stripper Clips & Tool $240.00 FREE S&H REBATE, AR-15 Barrel Length Does It Even Matter? This was Colts way of indicating the caliber of the gun was .44-40. But since its a keeper and not a blaster thats not super important. Restoration would include stripping the old finish, sanding the surface to the level of the pits, polishing and prepping all the parts and possibly having the roll marks, patent dates, serial number and factory address stamped again. William Mason left Colt and joined Winchester in 1883. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The manager of the Gun Department approached the author and said, I may have something thats right up your alley.. SP8241 Cylinder Pin Lock Screw (Repro.) The Model 1878 had a larger frame, and is therefore sometimes referred to as the "large frame" double-action revolver, while the Model 1877 is likewise referred to as the "small frame" double-action revolver. Colt Replica (Italian, etc.) Colt 1878 Frontier DA Revolver Fat Size . Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, State Agency: Mail-in entries accepted; send postcards (no envelopes) to: GUNS Magazine, GOM April 2023, P.O. This revolver is in .38 Colt. But, for all its faults, the M1877 appealed to many shooters because of the smaller frame and grips. The hammer and trigger seemed to work fine and surprisingly, all the numbers matched. Oppen rejected it outright. The Model 1878 was considered a more robust and reliable design than the Model 1877. for Colt S.A. Army 1873 Frontier, Bisley,Colt Double Action Lightning M1877, and Frontier, CP1214 Sear (repro.) (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Carbona charcoal blue revolver to original. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Oklahoma Leather Western-Style Open Top Loop Holster Left Hand 1851, 1858, 1860, 1861 Black Powder Revolver 8" Barrel Leather Brown. British Land Pattern Pistol; M1807 Harper's Ferry Pistol; M1816 North Pistol; M1819 North Pistol; . Polish to period-correct high polish finish. These are known as the "Philippine" or "Alaskan" models. Sal had a spare lanyard ring on hand but found that the hand and cylinder ratchet needed replacement as well. To add to the craze, Continental Tobacco, the mega-corporation who owned a staggering amount of tobacco brands, started offering a Colt Lightning as a present to their patrons around 1900. No purchase necessary. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, State Agency: Our Sale Price: $32.00. It would be six more years before Colt would revolutionize double-action revolvers with the swing-out cylinder design of the M-1889 revolver. Samuel Colt had tinkered with double-action revolvers when he founded his company in 1847, but found the design to be lacking and unreliable. The lanyard ring was missing, but that is an easily replaceable part. New Hampshire Fish & Game Department, State Agency: US M1878 Haversack without "US" Stencil. Engraving, special adornments and fancy grips were always available options. The M1877 originally was offered with an acid-etched caliber panel on the barrel. GI#: 102257111. His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. 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