The first double action revolver introduced by the Colt Patent Firearms Company was the model of 1877. The gun was available in three calibers - .32, .38, and .41. Collectors nicknamed the three models “Rainmaker”, “Lightning” and “Thunderer”, although this nomenclature was never used by the firm in its description or advertising. The 1877 is an interesting gun. Sam Colt himself was very much against the double action mechanism, claiming that a “self-cocker” as they were commonly known, would make for an inaccurate shooter. By 1877, 14 years after the colonel’s passing, Colt had no choice but join the increasing number of makers offering this type of mechanism. It is interesting to note that the idea of the “single and double-action” was by no means new. As early as 1854 the American maker Josiah Ells had a single/double action percussion revolver on the market which could be cocked single-action with the thumb, or made to fire by the action of the trigger alone. J.M Cooper of Philadelphia had a successful double-action revolver on the market by 1862. In Europe, Webley had a very successful and long-lasting double-action design on the market by 1868. All these early designs were simple, straight-forward and highly successful. Most utilized a push-pull arrangement by which the trigger would push up the hammer in double-action mode, and in single action mode the hammer would pull back the trigger and lock it against the sear. Some designs utilized two sears, one for each of the actions. Why, then, one might ask, would Colt opt to re-invent the entire mechanism, and in the course thereof, end up with a mechanism which is complicated and delicate? The Colt M1877 is known as “the gunsmith’s favorite” because of this delicate nature. It involves a series of springs and levers acting on the hammer and trigger which make the mechanism work. Anyone who has had to take one of these apart can attest to the complicated arrangement. It must have been expensive to produce, and rife with problems. On the other hand, however, the gun enjoyed significant popularity to have been manufactured for over 30 years! More than 116,000 were made by 1909, a testament to the longevity of this model. Even after other double-action revolvers came on the market, like the 1878 and 1889, this one continued to be one of the best selling Colt double action revolvers. Perhaps it is because it has a smaller frame and grip, and therefore is a lighter gun as compared to the 1878 and 1889 models that made it popular, even today. Long neglected by the collecting public, the Model of 1877 is now one of the most sought-after Colts on the market. In Canada, of course, we can only claim the .41 LC caliber gun with a serial number below 107,500 as an antique. Variants in this model include blued and nickel plated specimens in barrel lengths of 1 ½ to 10 inches, some engraved and with fancy grips.
Colt Models of 1877 from 3 1/2 inch to 6 inch, blued and nickel plated.
Colt Models of 1877 from 3 1/2 inch to 6 inch, blued and nickel plated.
