Colt Model 1878
Encyclopedia
The Colt M1878 was a double action revolver
manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company
from 1878 to 1907. It is often referred to as the "Frontier" or the "Double Action Army" revolver.
The M1878 was designed by William Mason
, Colt's factory manager and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards
, Superintendent of Engineering. It was similar in design to the Colt Model 1877
. 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.
51,210 Model 1878 revolvers were manufactured from 1878 to 1907.
revolver. The double action revolver is not dramatically different in design than the single action revolver. A strut is added to connect the trigger movement to the hammer. The top of the trigger slips beyond the strut so that the hammer will stay in full cock if it is pulled back manually.
The Model 1878 had a larger frame than the Model 1877, which allowed it to fire larger and more powerful cartridges, such as the .45 Colt
and .44-40.
The Model 1878 used the same barrel, ejector parts, and a very similar cylinder to the Single Action Army revolver. At one time, the factory even modified Model 1878 cylinders for use in single action revolvers in an attempt to use up spare parts.
. The most popular calibers were .45 and .44-40.
The barrel was available in several different lengths. Smaller barrels were more easily concealed, and were therefore preferred by both criminals and plainclothes law enforcement officials. Barrel lengths available were 3, 3-1/2, 4, 4-3/4, 5-1/2, and 7-1/2 inches. Revolvers with 4 inch and shorter barrels did not have an ejector.
Standard grips were black checkered hard rubber. Many early revolvers were also produced with checkered walnut grips.
In 1902, 4,600 Model 1878 revolvers were produced for a U.S. Army contract. These revolvers had a 6 inch barrel, a hard rubber grip, and were chambered for the .45 Colt round. They also had a larger trigger guard and a longer trigger. Many people have incorrectly assumed that this was to allow the revolver to be operated while wearing gloves, but in reality, the larger trigger guard and longer trigger were in response to the Model 1878's reputation for having a very hard trigger pull. The longer trigger was designed to give the user more leverage, thus reducing the force required to pull the trigger. These were called "Alaskan" or "Philippine" revolvers, as they were originally intended for use in Alaska but ended up being shipped to the Philippines.
often inserted guns that he thought were interesting into his works. In "The Man Called Noon" the character Jonas carries a model 1878, referred to by its common name, the Frontier. "The gun was new, a Frontier model, and the weight of it on his hip was comforting."
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 1878 to 1907. It is often referred to as the "Frontier" or the "Double Action Army" revolver.
History
Sam Colt experimented with double action systems, but considered them to be unreliable. After Colt's patent expired in 1857, other manufacturers began producing double action revolvers. Colt did not manufacture its own double action revolver until 1877, twenty years after the patent had expired.The M1878 was designed by 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:...
, Colt's factory manager and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards
Charles Brinckerhoff Richards
Charles Brinckerhoff Richards was an engineer who worked for Colt's Patent Fire Arms Co., where he was responsible for the development of the Colt Single Action Army revolver...
, Superintendent of Engineering. It was similar in design to the Colt Model 1877
Colt Model 1877
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 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.
51,210 Model 1878 revolvers were manufactured from 1878 to 1907.
Design and Features
The design of the Model 1878 was based on the Model 1877, which in turn was based heavily on the design of the earlier Colt Single Action ArmyColt 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 double action revolver is not dramatically different in design than the single action revolver. A strut is added to connect the trigger movement to the hammer. The top of the trigger slips beyond the strut so that the hammer will stay in full cock if it is pulled back manually.
The Model 1878 had a larger frame than the Model 1877, which allowed it to fire larger and more powerful cartridges, such as the .45 Colt
.45 Colt
The .45 Colt cartridge is a handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It began as a black powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver, but is offered as a magnum level handgun hunting round in modern usage. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as the...
and .44-40.
The Model 1878 used the same barrel, ejector parts, and a very similar cylinder to the Single Action Army revolver. At one time, the factory even modified Model 1878 cylinders for use in single action revolvers in an attempt to use up spare parts.
Variants
The Model 1878 was available in .45 Colt, .32-20, .38 Colt, .38-40, .41 Colt, .44-40, .455 Webley and 476 EleyEley Brothers
Eley Brothers were a manufacturer of firearms cartridges at the Eley's Cartridge Factory, located in Edmonton and bordered by the River Lee Navigation and the Great Eastern Railway at Angel Road.- History :...
. The most popular calibers were .45 and .44-40.
The barrel was available in several different lengths. Smaller barrels were more easily concealed, and were therefore preferred by both criminals and plainclothes law enforcement officials. Barrel lengths available were 3, 3-1/2, 4, 4-3/4, 5-1/2, and 7-1/2 inches. Revolvers with 4 inch and shorter barrels did not have an ejector.
Standard grips were black checkered hard rubber. Many early revolvers were also produced with checkered walnut grips.
In 1902, 4,600 Model 1878 revolvers were produced for a U.S. Army contract. These revolvers had a 6 inch barrel, a hard rubber grip, and were chambered for the .45 Colt round. They also had a larger trigger guard and a longer trigger. Many people have incorrectly assumed that this was to allow the revolver to be operated while wearing gloves, but in reality, the larger trigger guard and longer trigger were in response to the Model 1878's reputation for having a very hard trigger pull. The longer trigger was designed to give the user more leverage, thus reducing the force required to pull the trigger. These were called "Alaskan" or "Philippine" revolvers, as they were originally intended for use in Alaska but ended up being shipped to the Philippines.
In Literature
Louis L'AmourLouis L'Amour
Louis Dearborn L'Amour was an American author. His books consisted primarily of Western fiction novels , however he also wrote historical fiction , science fiction , nonfiction , as well as poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into movies...
often inserted guns that he thought were interesting into his works. In "The Man Called Noon" the character Jonas carries a model 1878, referred to by its common name, the Frontier. "The gun was new, a Frontier model, and the weight of it on his hip was comforting."