By the end of the 19th century, sales of this frontier style black powder big bore sixshooter were slowing as. Colts first attempt at a double action revolver to compete with the european. Bag full of guns single action revolvers, colt single action army, cowboy action. In the back of the book is a complete listing of all colt serial numbers by model and. The colt initally was more popular over there for two reasons.
Most likely, the colt double action revolver of 1877 was a response to the introduction of the webley bulldog pistol in 1872, which was already being imported into the u. How common were double action revolvers in the post civil. How the colt single action army revolver won the west. Colt was then lucky enough to have the gun accepted into us army service as the m1909. Colts double action revolver model of 1878 don wilkerson. The colt 1902 philippine model revolver is a modified version of the colt 1878 double action army or frontier model pistol. This was colts first medium frame double action target revolver and the first of a series of officers model target colts. The colt m1877 was a double action revolver manufactured by colt s patent fire arms from january 1877 to 1909 for a total of 166,849 revolvers. From page 106 of robert bests book, a study of colts new army and navy pattern double action revolvers 1889 to 1908, 2004, reads the following. Aug 01, 2011 by the end of world war i, however, the single action.
Handguns of world war ii, the secondary pistols and revolvers charles pate colt s double action revolver model of 1878 don wilkerson. Jan 26, 2017 the colt 1902 philippine model revolver is a modified version of the colt 1878 double action army or frontier model pistol. This beautiful revolver comes with a 5 12 barrel, fixed sights, walnut grip, lanyard ring, and of course colts trademark rearingcolt emblem is stamped on the left side of the frame. The colt single action army, also known as the single action army, saa, model p. Jul 28, 2011 in this video we shoot two classic revolvers of the mid20th century. Sears 1901 catalog offered a fine handsome colt single action army revolver. A study of colt new army and navy pattern double action revolvers. Read the instructions, warnings and cautions in this manual carefully before using this firearm. The colt double action revolvers a shop manual vol. Revolver has approximately 25% nickel finish with patina. Colt guns colt 1878 frontier da collectors firearms. This is a colt commando that was produced during wwii in.
As this book was going to press, a memorandum was located in the national archives by mr. Styled in the bold tradition of the old west with modern autoloading action. In 1877 colt introduced their first doubleaction revolvers. The colt m1878 is a doubleaction revolver that was manufactured by colts manufacturing. The model 1878 colt was a double action that saw limited. One, the adams hadnt started widespread production yet. Both the model 1877 and model 1878 were basically single actions fitted with da triggers and a new grip frame. The semiauto and double action revolver were clearly the wave of the future, and they conspired not to praise the old saa but to bury it. There is some minor areas of pits on trigger guard and frame, otherwise very good overall condition. The only really detailed gunsmithing and repair manual on these colt revolvers ever printed. Colt revolvers new service for sale guns international.
It was originally a blackpowder revolver round developed for the colt single action army revolver. Colts big model 1898 a doubleaction hit historynet. It was this revolver that colt elected to use to fulfill the us army need and began boring their cylinders to accept the required. Enter the serial number, without spaces or dashes, to search the database. Colts manufacturing company firearms, handguns, pistols, rifles, revolvers. As with wilkersons other colt books, this one also covers each caliber which was offered as well as barrel lengths, total production figures and serial numbers. The model 1911 and model 1911a1 military and commercial pistols for collectors only.
First world, marines, hand guns, world war, german, navy, history, books. Jul 22, 2015 colt 1873 single action army revolver bangor, maine american history is full of iconic firearms with many to name from the kentucky rifle, to the m16ar15 family, but one. Python, detective special, official police, diamondback, agent, first model trooper, police. Kathy hoyt colts manufacturing co inc historical research po box 1868 hartford ct. Iirc colts 1851 revolver was introduced in england as the adams double action. P sauer and sohn fielded their excellent single actions and americans no longer had to wish for a. Orders placed today ship within 24 hours of purchase excludes firearms. The 1877 colt double action revolver unblinking eye. The barrel was 6 inches and the gun was usually fitted with fancy checkered walnut grips and a high polish blued finish. This revolver was designed as the double action version of colts famed single action army revolver and shared much of its history. During much of the 1900s it was not always so popular.
Major sections of the book cover history and development. Over a span of more than a hundred years, the 1911 pistol platform has. Smith and wesson proposed to the us army a six shot double action revolver with a solid frame and swing out cylinder to have a standard 5. This was colts first entry into the largeframe double action revolver market, following just after the 1877 small frame lightning and thunderer designs. In this video we shoot two classic revolvers of the mid20th century. The end result was a serviceable and effective revolver that was very conventional in its base design. Early double action revolvers were slow on the path to reliability. Guns magazine colt da revolvers and semiautos guns. The 1873 single action army model, known as the peacemaker or simply sixshooter, became the standard sidearm of the postwar military, the texas rangers, and the majority of cowboys across the plains. A revolver is a repeating handgun that has a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers. Washington government printing office 19 reprinted by collectors library antique militaria of eugene, or. If multiple models appear for your serial number simply match the date with the appropriate model, as certain vintage firearms can share serial numbers between different models. Colts double action revolver model of 1878 1998 by don wilkerson relates the history and development of this first true bigbore da.
A study of colts new army and navy pattern double action. Here is the complete story of colt s first large frame double action revolver, the model of 1878. Covers the colt1911 type automatic pistols on actual gunsmithing, full disassembly. Colt double action revolvers pre 1945 local deals, national.
Documents the first solid frame colt revolver, and the end of the line for it, at the death of of colt in 1862 and elisha root in 1864. Colt firearms reference books colt automatic pistol. Colt 1873 single action army revolver bangor, maine american history is full of iconic firearms with many to name from the. Crossett library book cover design by edward gorey book cover design and.
While the book is a little long on the companys history and patent paper details, the rundown of colt models and the quality of the photos at least on my original copy are excellent. The book is a must for both book collectors and colt firearms collectors. The first doubleaction revolver that the colt factory produced after sam colts death was the 1877 lightning. The history and function of one of worlds greatest pistols. Aug 11, 2017 the 1873 colt single action army was designed primarily for use by the cavalry, but other mounted units, including the horse artillery, were also issued these revolvers as sidearms, as shown by this early 1890s mounted artillery trooper of junction city, kansas. The first double action revolver that the colt factory produced after sam colt s death was the 1877 lightning model that fired. Not fancy, but had the pistol program not worked out the way it did, this revolver may have had been the u. Iirc colt s 1851 revolver was introduced in england as the adams double action. Wilson colt and its collectors colt collectors association fine colts the dr. Grips are good with a repair on the left hand side grips. Due to sam colt s negativity regarding doubleaction revolvers, the colt factory didnt produce one until 1877, well into the cartridge era. Not fancy, but had the pistol program not worked out the way it did, this revolver may.
One year later, colts first da bigbore revolver arrivedthe model 1878 in. The colt m1877 was a doubleaction revolver manufactured by colts patent fire arms from january 1877 to 1909 for a total of 166,849 revolvers. From a peak of 18,000 units in 1903, saa production dwindled to just 800plus units in 1940, its final year. A study of colt s new army and navy pattern double action revolvers 18891908 bob best u. For sale we have a colt officers model 2nd issue double action revolver in. A single action revolver only requires the manual cocking of the hammer and light squeezing of the trigger to fire it. This revolver was designed as the double action version of colt s famed single action army revolver and shared much of its history. Radio scrimshaw historical reenactment revolutionary and civil wars. This is a very nice condition colt new service revolver for sale chambered in 45 lc. This beautiful revolver comes with a 5 12 barrel, fixed sights, walnut grip, lanyard ring, and of course colt s trademark rearing colt emblem is stamped on the left side of the frame. Wilson colt percussion revolvers 51 colt navies by nathan swayze a study of colt conversions and other percussion revolvers. But from 1918 onwards, the colts popularity waned with the closing of the frontier and the emergence of new doubleaction revolvers and semiautomatic pistols. Has some wear with about 90% blue mixed with brown patina.
Colt double action revolver s by don wilkerson the book of colt firearms by r. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. How common were double action revolvers in the post civil war. Its not about getting my money back its about that i like the feel and looks of the 1917. A history of the colt revolver and the other arms made by. The colt revolver remained preeminent among such arms in texas and throughout the west for the remainder of the nineteenth century. Army in 1873 and served as an official us military handgun cartridge for 14 years. Jun 30, 2009 colt antique single action army revolver.
A study of colt new army and navy pattern double action. Still in business today, the colts manufacturing company went on to produce the colt single action army handgun, also known as the colt. While pat garrett owned a merwin hulbert, he used a colt peacemaker to gun down the kid. There s loads of history associated with these revolvers on multiple revisions.
Details about the colt double action revolvers a shop manual vol. But the guns accuracy was such that in his pioneer 1954 book colt firearms, jim serven, the. The introduction of rugers 45 colt blackhawk was the landmark development as far as the cartridge was concerned. The model 1878 saw action on americas frontier and throughout the world until production ceased in 1905. Colt double action revolvers pre 1945 for sale 55 listings. Wilson colt firearms by serven for factory letters contact. Description of the colts doubleaction revolver, caliber.
Colt 175 years the history of americas premier gunmaker by dennis adler. Colt single action army revolver was retired by the cavalry and replaced by the. Nov 03, 2016 but from 1918 onwards, the colt s popularity waned with the closing of the frontier and the emergence of new double action revolvers and semiautomatic pistols. Colt 1873 single action army revolver a brief history.
Here is the complete story of colts first large frame double action revolver, the model of. All colt models general colt, an american legend r. The model 1877 was offered in three calibers, which lent them three unofficial names. Rsa lasserre super comanche nkl for sale at vance outdoors. Its first doubleaction revolver was the smallframed, sixshot lightningin. There s loads of history associated with these revolvers on multiple revisions throughout their service life. Colt model 1892 us army da revolver unaltered 1 of 7 known. Colt s first attempt at a double action revolver to compete with the european manufacturers was the colt model 1877, which earned lasting notoriety for its overly complex, expensive and fragile trigger mechanism, which in addition to failing frequently, also had a terrible trigger pull unless given the attentions of a competent gunsmith. A study of colts new army and navy pattern double action revolvers 1889 to. The webley was a double action pistol with a two inch barrel, the original version of which held 5 rounds of. The finish and grips show very little wear or damage.
The first doubleaction revolver that the colt factory produced after sam colts death was the 1877 lightning model that fired. The colt single action army, also known as the single action army, saa, model p, peacemaker and m1873, is a singleaction revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges. The serial numbers are stamped on the frame, the backstrap and the. The 1873 colt single action army was designed primarily for use by the cavalry, but other mounted units, including the horse artillery, were also issued these revolvers as sidearms, as shown by this early 1890s mounted artillery trooper of junction city, kansas. The gun digest book of combat handgunnery iola, wisconsin ed. Here is the complete story of colts first large frame double action revolver, the model of 1878. About 3,500 prewar colt single action armys were factory engraved on special order or as gifts for important people. Colt single action army revolvers 1st generation general.