Videos tagged with Colt Model 1877

This "American Rifleman Television" segment explores the history and variations of the Colt Model 1877 revolver, specifically focusing on the "Lightning" model. Originally designed to compete with emerging double-action revolvers, the Model 1877 had three variants: Lightning, Thunderer, and Rainmaker. These distinct names were marketing terms introduced by a major Colt distributor, B. Kittredge & Company, to differentiate between the various chamberings of the pistol. The video highlights the context of its development in the 1870s and its place in Colt's product line.

This video segment from "American Rifleman Television" explores the Colt Model 1878 double-action revolver. It contrasts Colt's earlier problematic Model 1877 with the more robust 1878, which addressed some design flaws and was chambered in a variety of popular calibers including .32-20 WCF, .38 Long Colt, .41 Long Colt, .38-40 WCF, .44-40 WCF, .45 Colt, .455 Webley, and .476 Eley. The video also discusses the U.S. Army's adoption of a variant as the Model 1902, its use during the Spanish-American War, and distinctive features like the enlarged trigger guard. Ultimately, the design's reliance on older loading mechanisms contributed to its obsolescence compared to swing-out cylinder revolvers.

This review delves into Colt's first double-action revolvers, the 1877 Lightning and Thunderer, designed by William Mason to compete with British imports. Despite a reputation for fragility and repair difficulty, these DA/SA revolvers, chambered in .38 and .41 Colt respectively, were produced in significant numbers and favored by historical figures for their concealability. The 1877 series shared aesthetics with the Single Action Army but featured a distinct bird's head grip.