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Colt Thunderer

robert574robert574 Member Posts: 223 ✭✭✭
edited November 2007 in Ask the Experts
I purchased a revolver today that appears to be quite old and I thought I recognized as a Colt Lightning. Gave $150 for it at a pawn shop. They didn't know what it was.

Now that I have it home, it appears to be a larger caliber perhaps .41 which looks like the Thunderer my book shows.

Some things I am not sure about so here it goes:

1. Looks just like the Colt Thunderer in my book.
2. Finish is nickel
3. Hammer, trigger are blue.
4. Serial number is 7X and marked on the bottom of the barrel just in front of the cylinder pin and on the frame just in front of the trigger guard.
5. Top of the barrel is marked:

COLTS REVOLVER CO WORCHESTER
MASS U. ?. A. PAT JAN 13/98 (the ? could be the lower half of an "S")

6. Left side frame is marked (best I can read)

PAT. SEP. 19 18
" JULY.2. 72
" JAN.15. 75

7. Action is DA only and works ok.
8. Top of grips are flat and don't have the Colt logo. They are intact and are covered with checkering. Grip screw looks original.
9. Barrel is 6"
10. Ejector is missing the finger dohicky but has the spring in it.
11. Has the side port to eject cartriges.
12. Cylinder does not swing out.

I know you want pictures. I'm working on it.

Comments

  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello it should read HARTFORD CT. not Worchester Mass Unless I am missing something . Pictures would be a BIG help.EDIT EDIT[:0]as SGT SCHULTZ would say VEEERRRY interesting. I agree it is a fake[?] but also agree it looks old . I hope who ever made up this piece does not show up at any gun shows I go to .He has talent and could make a fool out of me and many others that might be temped to jump on an item before doing research.. You should put up for auction I know of at least one person that would like to have as a red herring to take around and show some people.[}:)][;)]My ref. states pat dates of three lines 1871 1874 and 1875caliber on either the trigger guard or left side of barrel but many variations of markings can be found
  • robert574robert574 Member Posts: 223 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,383 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Fake, fake, FAKE!

    The barrel inscription is wrong, should be Colt's Pt F.A. Mfg Co, Hartford Ct USA.
    The cylinder is wrong, an 1877 has long cylinder flutes and does not have external bolt notches.
    The butt is the wrong shape, the prawl at the top is not prominent enough.

    Probably other stuff that I am not expert enough to spot, but that is enough. Fake.
  • robert574robert574 Member Posts: 223 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Not saying it's not. We were discussing the markings here also. If it's a fake, it looks like an old one.

    Anyone else familiar with these?

    I'm not in it too deep one way or the other. I wish I had a good book on Colt. Stacks of books and nothing I'm looking for...

    The prawl doesn't show up well in the pictures above.

    2003350036048232127_rs.jpg[/URL][/img]

    hmmm... I see what you are saying about the cylinder... There is also not an "H" in Worcester.
  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,383 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have never seen the like. The Belgian Colt Brevette percussion revolvers are well known; and I have seen all sorts of Spanish more-or-less copies of Colt and S&W swing-out cylinder revolvers, some with features of both. But who would bother copying a Lightning? Ick.
  • robert574robert574 Member Posts: 223 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Looking past this copy, I actually like the feel of the Lightning. I know they had problems with them. Too bad.

    I was in a gun shop about 3 years ago in West Palm, FL and the gunsmith was tuning up a pair of late model copies he showed me that I thought he said came from Uberti.

    I've not seen a new one like it since. Haven't been back down that way since, but I could give him a call and find out what happened.

    Anyone know of a good book on Colt?
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    $150..no big deal..have a lot more fun than that chasing this around!!!!!!
  • Spider7115Spider7115 Member Posts: 29,704 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Hawk Carse
    Fake, fake, FAKE!

    The barrel inscription is wrong, should be Colt's Pt F.A. Mfg Co, Hartford Ct USA.
    The cylinder is wrong, an 1877 has long cylinder flutes and does not have external bolt notches.
    The butt is the wrong shape, the prawl at the top is not prominent enough.

    Probably other stuff that I am not expert enough to spot, but that is enough. Fake.

    A BAD fake at that. Whoever did it even spelled WORCESTER wrong - there's no "H" in it!
  • XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990
    edited November -1
    A pretty obvious fake....BUT....gotta be worth at least $150 as a curiosity.
  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,383 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "late model copies he showed me that I thought he said came from Uberti."

    The only Uberti "Lightnings" and "Thunderers" that I have seen were just SAAs with butts shaped like the 1877. Mechanics were still strictly single action.
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