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Colt 1877 Lightning or Thunderer??

CHGOTHNDERCHGOTHNDER Member Posts: 8,936 ✭✭✭
edited April 2004 in Ask the Experts
A couple of years ago I purchased an 1877 lightning serial #116268 at least thats what I believed I purchased, and according to Colt thats what I had made in 1901. I just got around to shooting it and found that the cases on the .38LC rounds were bursting making it hard to extract. You guy's on the forum were great, some of you emailed me with the ID dimensions of the cylinder and also with the ID of the barrel and nothing jived. I recently was playing around with a gold acid kit and accidently spilled some of the acid on the barrel and while cleaning it seen what appeared to be a number "4" never seen that before. So I now believe that this is a .41 colt Thunderer, I also grabbed a pic from GB and it looks like it except I cannot read the number 1 on mine. Any comments would be great.

PJ
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If nobody seen you do it, how could you have done it. NRA Life Member, AF&AM
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Comments

  • bobskibobski Member Posts: 17,866 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    could the bbl and cyl be mismatched? 41 cyl on 38 gun? its very possible.
    Retired Naval Aviation
    Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
    Former NSSA All American
    Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
    MO, CT, VA.
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  • Contender ManContender Man Member Posts: 2,110 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Might be a good idea to have a gunsmith check it over as the case splitting is a serious problem.

    Firing 38LC in a 41 should result is some noticably poor accuracy.

    Firing a 41 in a revolver with a 41 cylinder and a 38 barrel could result in you or someone near you having a very poor day!

    Why take any chances ... get a pro to give it a going over.


    2470099-S.jpg
    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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  • XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990 ✭
    edited November -1
    If it is .41 Colt, the cylinders should measure .404 - .405 and the bore should be .401.

    That sure would explain your problems with .38 Colt rounds.
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  • CHGOTHNDERCHGOTHNDER Member Posts: 8,936 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Got a hold of some .41 colt and fired fine extracted perfect. Could the person at colt have been wrong about the caliber? I think that when I told her it was a lightning she assumed it was .38 colt. The sales slip say's 1877 lightning .38 colt with the serial #. I think I should call the shop where I bought it and tell them someone had their head up their * the day they tagged it. Thanks for all the help and I think I'm gonna spend the $100.00 and get the letter from colt.


    PJ

    If nobody seen you do it, how could you have done it. NRA Life Member, AF&AM
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello both 38 & 41 have by some people been called LIGHTNING if the tag read 38 this part would be wrong however if it just said colt lightning that would be a common mis speak both should be called colt double action model 1877 . even "MAN AT ARMS" had a big writeup last year with dates barrel lenght, finish etc that called both cal. lightning
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    On the left rear of the barrel it should be marked 38 or 41 DA
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  • bobskibobski Member Posts: 17,866 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    is a 41 thunderer worth a 100.00 paper from colt. mine wasnt!
    Retired Naval Aviation
    Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
    Former NSSA All American
    Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
    MO, CT, VA.
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  • v35v35 Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your gun was made in early in 1900 not 1901. If it's as rough so as not to have any markings, it may not justify getting the Colt letter.
    There's no way to get a 41LC into a 38 chamber so why not accept the fact that it's a 41LC and the sellers' mistake. That is if you want
    the Thunderer and not the Lightning.
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  • CHGOTHNDERCHGOTHNDER Member Posts: 8,936 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Found the original reciept and hang tag from the store and yep it was marked 1877 colt lightning .38LC. The thunderer was actually what I wanted but could not find one locally (my win this time). I went to one of the SASS people (supposedly an old colt guru)and he confirmed that it was a .41 and the tag and reciept was wrong. I finished shooting the rest of the box and am gonna shot it a lot more. I was going to buy the letter from colt to see exactly what they officially say it is according to their records. Thanks for all the help and advise you guy's are the best.

    PJ

    perry shooter...I would like to read that article by Man at arms if you would be so kind as to send it this way.

    If nobody seen you do it, how could you have done it. NRA Life Member, AF&AM
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