Colt Model 1877
Encyclopedia
The Colt M1877 was a double action revolver
manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company
from January 1877 to 1909 for a total of 166,849 revolvers. The Model 1877 was offered in three calibers, which lent them three unofficial names: the "Lightning", the "Thunderer", and the "Rainmaker". The principal difference between the models were in their calibers: the "Lightning" being chambered in .38 Colt; the "Thunderer" in .41 Colt. Both models had a six-round ammunition capacity. An earlier model in .32 Colt known as the "Rainmaker" was offered in 1877.
The M1877 was designed by one of the inventors of the Colt Single Action Army
, William Mason
as Colt's first attempt at manufacturing a double-action revolver. Its early double-action mechanism proved to be both intricate and delicate, and thus prone to breakage. The design had a reputation for failure. Typically, this would reduce the revolver to single-action fire only. Because of the intricate design and difficulty of repair, gunsmiths disliked working on them. Gun Digest referred to it as "the worst double-action trigger mechanism ever made". Outwardly, the Model 1877 shows a striking resemblance to the Colt Single Action Army
revolver. The standard finishes were blued
, with case-coloured frame or nickel plating. The bird's head grips are of checkered rosewood on the early guns and hard rubber on the majority of later production runs.
The "Lightning" was the favoured personal weapon of famous Manchester
(UK) Victorian
detective and then head of CID
, Jerome Caminada
. Old West Outlaw John Wesley Hardin
frequently used both "Lightning" and "Thunderer" versions of the Colt 1877 revolver. Likewise the 1877 "Thunderer"" in .41 caliber was the preferred weapon of Billy the Kid
and was his weapon of choice when he was killed by Pat Garrett
in 1881.
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
from January 1877 to 1909 for a total of 166,849 revolvers. The Model 1877 was offered in three calibers, which lent them three unofficial names: the "Lightning", the "Thunderer", and the "Rainmaker". The principal difference between the models were in their calibers: the "Lightning" being chambered in .38 Colt; the "Thunderer" in .41 Colt. Both models had a six-round ammunition capacity. An earlier model in .32 Colt known as the "Rainmaker" was offered in 1877.
The M1877 was designed by one of the inventors of the Colt Single Action Army
Colt Single Action Army
The Colt Single Action Army is a single action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges. It was designed for the U.S...
, William Mason
William Mason (Colt)
William Mason was an engineer and inventor who worked for Remington Arms, Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, and Winchester Repeating Arms Company in the 19th century.-Remington:...
as Colt's first attempt at manufacturing a double-action revolver. Its early double-action mechanism proved to be both intricate and delicate, and thus prone to breakage. The design had a reputation for failure. Typically, this would reduce the revolver to single-action fire only. Because of the intricate design and difficulty of repair, gunsmiths disliked working on them. Gun Digest referred to it as "the worst double-action trigger mechanism ever made". Outwardly, the Model 1877 shows a striking resemblance to the Colt Single Action Army
Colt Single Action Army
The Colt Single Action Army is a single action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges. It was designed for the U.S...
revolver. The standard finishes were blued
Bluing (steel)
Bluing is a passivation process in which steel is partially protected against rust, and is named after the blue-black appearance of the resulting protective finish. True gun bluing is an electrochemical conversion coating resulting from an oxidizing chemical reaction with iron on the surface...
, with case-coloured frame or nickel plating. The bird's head grips are of checkered rosewood on the early guns and hard rubber on the majority of later production runs.
The "Lightning" was the favoured personal weapon of famous Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
(UK) Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
detective and then head of CID
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
, Jerome Caminada
Jerome Caminada
Jerome Caminada was a 19th-century police officer in Manchester, England. Caminada served with the police between 1868 and 1899, and has been called Manchester's Sherlock Holmes. In 1897 he became the city's first CID superintendent...
. Old West Outlaw John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin was an American outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk hero of the Old West. He was born in Bonham, Texas. Hardin found himself in trouble with the law at an early age, and spent the majority of his life being pursued by both local lawmen and federal troops of the...
frequently used both "Lightning" and "Thunderer" versions of the Colt 1877 revolver. Likewise the 1877 "Thunderer"" in .41 caliber was the preferred weapon of Billy the Kid
Billy the Kid
William H. Bonney William H. Bonney William H. Bonney (born William Henry McCarty, Jr. est. November 23, 1859 – c. July 14, 1881, better known as Billy the Kid but also known as Henry Antrim, was a 19th-century American gunman who participated in the Lincoln County War and became a frontier...
and was his weapon of choice when he was killed by Pat Garrett
Pat Garrett
Patrick Floyd "Pat" Garrett was an American Old West lawman, bartender, and customs agent who was best known for killing Billy the Kid...
in 1881.