Sadly, in many cases, the panel is worn or buffed away during refinishing. Essentially a strut was added to connect the hammer and trigger to the design of the SAA. The Colt M1878 was a double action revolver manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1878 to 1907. A strut is added to connect the trigger movement to the hammer. document.write(theDate.getFullYear()) In 1902, 4,600 Model 1878 revolvers were produced for a U.S. Army contract. Finding an excellent example that hasnt been buffed, sanded, scrubbed, or refinished is very difficult. The __gads cookie, set by Google, is stored under DoubleClick domain and tracks the number of times users see an advert, measures the success of the campaign and calculates its revenue. There are occasionally found rare examples of the M1878 with a 2 barrel and sometimes with a 12 barrel. Smith & Wesson single-action sixguns were a vital part of our frontier history. (IV) Winners must undergo a background check (if required) and comply with all other federal, state and local laws. Many people have incorrectly assumed that this was to allow the revolver to be operated while wearing gloves, so "Alaskan Model" is a misnomer. 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. Years went by, but in 1877 Colt sent Oppen their new offering it looked like a scaled-down version of the Peacemaker. have lackluster performance and look small compared to the .45 Colt powerhouse. Quickview. For 1,800 tags, one would receive a genuine Colt Lightning revolver! Contest open to U.S. residents only. Colt Frontier M1878; Colt #3 Rimfire; Colt Root; Military. A new and larger trigger guard was designed to accommodate this. The Model 1878 was available in .45 Colt, .32-20, .38 Colt, .38-40, .41 Colt, .44-40, .455 Webley and .476 Eley. Oppen repeatedly asked for a large-bore double-action revolver to counter the other offerings eroding Colts market share in London. It has everything as far as Im concerned, including versatility, history and performance. A circular panel was provided on the left side of the frame to allow access to the mechanism. SP8241 Cylinder Pin Lock Screw (Repro.) G5 Colt 1878 Frontier DA Revolver Grips, Black. Between them Mason and Richards had created the Model 1877 and used a very similar design simply made bigger for the large frame Model 1878. Deployed military should use stateside address. British Land Pattern Pistol; M1807 Harper's Ferry Pistol; M1816 North Pistol; Shooters need to be careful with these old firearms. The oversized triggerguard of the M-1878 makes it difficult to fit in a holster for a Single Action Army, and this gun and holster fit so well that I have to believe the holster was made for this model of gun. Action works perfectly. The gun is 100% complete, correct and original, retains nearly all of its original finish and is mechanically perfect. 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. Disassemble, clean, inspect. In the 1870s, the focus was on westward expansion and the U.S. Army was busy fighting the indigenous tribes west of the Mississippi. The name gutta-percha is an Anglicization of the Malay name getah perca; getah means sap and perca being the name of the tree. Some historians feel this boils down to one key thing how the U.S. Army waged war vs. how European armies waged war. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They had strengthened mainsprings and longer triggers to give the user more leverage, resulting in larger trigger guards. Contest void where prohibited by law. There are a number of additional custom reloaders who can provide BP ammo. Winners will be notified by certified mail on official letterhead. Colt 1878 double action revolver. This is a minor issue that can hardly be seen and does not affect the display of this wonderful condition revolver, but it is mentioned for exactness. This cookie, set by Cloudflare, is used to support Cloudflare Bot Management. Many people have incorrectly assumed that this was to allow the revolver to be operated while wearing gloves, so "Alaskan Model" is a misnomer. But, for all its faults, the M1877 appealed to many shooters because of the smaller frame and grips. While models are generally cheaper than an original Colt Single Action Army, the prices keep climbing. many ways but falls short of being an exact replica. The .45 Colt is my favorite cartridge. Many companies including Colt were not known for using the best steel and a modern smokeless powder round (even a so-called cowboy load) can have disastrous consequences. (III) Giveaway winner(s) chosen by random drawing. The M1877 originally was offered with an acid-etched caliber panel on the barrel. Add to Cart. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. Colt Model 1878 were manufactured in the following caliber's : 22, 32, 32-20, 38 COLT, 38-40, 44 Russian, 44-40 Frontier, 45 Colt , 450 Boxer, 455 Enfield, 476 Enfield . The revolver had a six shot, fluted cylinder, which was loaded and unloaded through a pivoting gate that was located on the right side of the frame. In keeping with their target audience of cowboy-action shooters, and to avoid the mechanical problems of the original, the gun is single-action only. For other Colt Double Action firearms, see, "Colt Frontier" redirects here. Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources, State Agency: A .41 Colt version soon followed. Standard grips were black checkered hard rubber but some early revolvers were produced with checkered walnut grips. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Youll find the story if you click here. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Samuel Colt passed away in 1862 at the age of forty seven and there would not be a Colt double action revolver until 1877 with the creation of the small frame Colt double action and 1878 with the introduction of the large frame double action revolver. & Y. and Amoskeag), Remington 1858 New Model, .36 Navy and .44 Army, Colt Walker, 1st Model Dragoon & Whitneyville Hartford, Colt Baby Dragoon, Wells Fargo and Pocket Revolvers, M1859,1863 & 1874 Sharps Rifles and Carbines, Bags, Boxes, Lock Covers & Powder Storage, SP1502 Mainspring Screw (repro.) All entries must be received by giveaway end date. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for M1881 Type 1 Cavalry Holster for M1873 Colt Single Action Army .45 Colt Revolver at the best online prices at eBay! Outlaw turned lawyer John Wesley Hardin decided two double-action revolvers were better than one. Colt Frontier M1878; Colt #3 Rimfire; Colt Root; Military. Sam Colt experimented with double action systems, but considered them to be unreliable. I was rewarded with several six-shot groups at 50 feet with all rounds almost touching and measuring 3.25 from side to side on average because a few rounds had key-holed. Having it complete and in working order makes it worth closer to $700 or $800. The big double-action revolver chambered in 44 WCF (Winchester Center Fire aka.44-40) with a birds head grip was missing most of its finish and the lanyard ring, but otherwise looked complete. Winchesters smokeless loads (Red Box Labels) did not show NOT FOR PISTOLS till 1900, then removed the call-out by 1909. Giveaway prizes may have evidence of being test fired or exhibit minor handling marks. The Frontier was the first large frame, large caliber, double-action handgun to be produced by Colt, and was a hybrid between their incredibly successful M-1873 Single Action Army and the M-1877 Double Action Revolver (better known as Lightning, Thunderer or Rainmaker depending upon caliber), which had been introduced the previous year. Close Menu. 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. It would be six more years before Colt would revolutionize double-action revolvers with the swing-out cylinder design of the M-1889 revolver. 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. Cimarron honors a Texas Ranger's legacy with a limited edition and faithful reproduction. European officers wanted a large-caliber revolver with rapid-fire capabilities. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, State Agency: The End. (I) Giveaway ends April 30, 2023. This revolver was part of a shipment of 50 identical guns sent to Hartley & Graham on that day. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. Remington goes back even farther than Colt. Our Price: $4.95 Compare. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. It took an even stronger trigger finger to pull a trigger, turn the cylinder and cock a heavy hammer spring, all while maintaining a steady sight picture. It has a nickel-plated buckle and the billet has 7 holes on 1 centers for adjustment. Most importantly the chambers in the cylinder were within spec for 44 WCF and the rifling in the barrel was strong with no evidence of corrosion or pitting in the bore. The Model 1878 was available in .32-20, .38 Colt, .38-40, .41 Colt, .44-40, .455 Webley, .45 Colt, and .476 Eley. No purchase necessary. Only some light scattered pinpricking and mild frosting in the grooves is noted. 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. 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. This was Colts way of indicating the caliber of the gun was .44-40. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This anonymous data helps us to better understand users' needs and customize the website accordingly. The Colt factory letter that accompanies this revolver states that it was shipped from the factory to B. Kittredge Company in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 7, 1880. A total of 51,210 Model 1878 revolvers were manufactured from 1878 to 1907, including 4,600 for the US Ordnance Department. The M1878 'Frontier' DA Army would feature a larger-heavier frame to accommodate the more powerful .44-40 & .45 Colt ammunition. The revolver had a fair degree of pitting and had been reblued at least once in its life. His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. The cartridge belt is unmarked as well, with the exception of the sizing mark 38 near the end of the billet. With the hammer strike being made harder so the double action trigger pull also became harder, necessitating the longer trigger modification. His landlady told stories of him prancing around his room, clicking away as he practiced his shooting skills. I test-fired the Frontier Six-Shooter with a few boxes of Black Hills Cowboy Action Ammunition. for reproduction Colt Walker 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Model Dragoon Revolver. With the revolver in Sals capable hands, he found part of the loading gate ratchet was worn away and the hand needed to be replaced. Associated taxes and fees are the responsibility of winners. The holster has impressed boarder tooling and a floral motif embossed near the mouth. Alexa analytics service - keep track on user informations. Collectors could quickly fill a room with all of the variations sold during the M1877s run. 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. The M1877 was a long time coming. The publics reaction was mixed. This article is about the Colt Model 1878. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, State Agency: The M1878 went by the catalog name of Frontier Six-Shooter when chambered in 44 WCF. 44-40 with a 7 " barrel. Winners must respond within 30 days of receiving notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Colt 1878 Frontier DA Revolver Fat Size . Many collectors refer to all versions as the M1877. They are solid and free from any chips or breaks. The first version was chambered in .38 Colt, an anemic cartridge compared to the heavy-hitting .45 Colt, but compared to most revolvers of the day it was a powerhouse. Frogs invented it,was at one time a military secret the equal of nuke info in the early 1950s. All of these features are confirmed by the October 30, 2009 dated Colt archives letter. The colonizing conquests of the European nations waged war differently. The standard finishes were blued or nickel-plated, with hard rubber grips. Buy a colt 1878 online. (II) Limit one (1) entry per household; multiple entries will disqualify entrants. He went into the back room and produced a Colt M1878 Frontier Six Shooter. By todays standards, the .32 Colt, .38 Colt and .41 Colt (below, left to right) The model was the Colt companys first foray into the production of a double action mechanism and was met with mixed reviews upon release. Colt turned again to the master designer of the popular Colts Army Revolver, which Kittredge had dubbed The Peacemaker. Not bad for a $79 initial investment. Although the Frontier never achieved the level of success of the Single Action Army, a variety of western notables, including Buffalo Bill Cody, Pawnee Bill Lilly and Rowdy Joe Lowe all owned and used Colt Double Action Frontier revolvers. [1] These revolvers are unofficially designated the Model 1902 (M1902). While the Colt Single-Action Army in .45 Colt was the weapon of choice for the U.S. Army, it was soundly rejected in London. The Model 1878 was considered a more robust and reliable design than the Model 1877. While the Frontier enjoyed reasonable success, the M1877 'Lightnings' were produced in three-times the quantity and would remain in production 4 years after the last of the DA Army pistols left the assembly . 1878, Sal works almost exclusively on the Colt M1877 and M1878 revolvers. With few exceptions, the battles were quick and in small numbers. The Colt in question was not a family heirloom or a historical piece, but I considered refinishing it. M1873-1889 Springfield Trapdoor. The holster shows great age and has clearly been with this revolver for a very long time, as the fit is perfect. Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, State Agency: Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, State Agency: A total of 51,210 Model 1878 revolvers were manufactured from 1878 to 1907, including 4,600 for the US Ordnance Department. The revolver is 100% complete, correct and original. Contest open to U.S. residents only. 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