Anyone Know of a Colt Lightning DA Revolver Reproduction?

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Browning

Browning

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I'm kind of unfamilar with SASS and Cowboy action shooting, but I was wondering it anyone knew if one of the firearms companies (USFA, Uberti, Cimmarron etc) had come out with a reproduction of the Colt Lightning Double Action Revolver.

Like this one.

cd-7265.jpg


Anyone know of one?

I know that there's a SA copy based off of it by Cimarron (the Thunderer), but I kind of wanted one that was DA and I was hoping that someone could point me in the right direction. I tried a search on this forum and I tried Googling it, but my Google Fu is weak today.
 
Yeah Cimarron makes them, or at least sells them, but only in single action configuration.
 


The real Colt Lightening was a DA revolver, not a single action. All Cimarron has done was put a bird's head grip on a scaled down SAA. Bummer.
​
 
No one makes a true reproduction of the Colt Model 1877 (Incorrectly called a Lightning - Colt assigned that name to a rifle) because the internal lockwork is complicated and difficult to work with. Given the handwork that would be necessary combined with a limited market no one will touch it.

If you are thinking of shooting an original revolver, be aware that Colt warned that they should only be used with black powder, and finding a gunsmith that would even think about repairing one would be difficult at best.
 
I think it would be cool if someone did make a reproduction Colt Model 1877 (modern lockwork or not), but who would buy it?

No good for SASS games and not great for practical use either (who wants to load a double action through a gate?).
 
Colt 1877 DA Lightning Revolvers.

theotherwaldo : This is one case where someone should come out with an updated, modern action in a historic-looking package.

A functional, reliable DA cowboy-type gun sounds like a pretty good seller.

Maybe Ruger should give it a try.
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Yeah, that would be nice. I'd be the first one in line.

I've always wanted one, but there's no way in hell I'd shoot an original BP loads or not.
Maybe them or one of the other companies will see posts like this and take a HINT

For those of you that pointed out the Cimarron Thunderer thanks, but like I said I kind of want it in double action.

JesseL : I think it would be cool if someone did make a reproduction Colt Model 1877 (modern lockwork or not), but who would buy it?
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I would, just for plinking because I like the style.

No good for SASS games and not great for practical use either (who wants to load a double action through a gate?).
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There were other DA's around back then, maybe CAS or SASS could come up with a new event category.

It's happened before.
 
Considering that Model 1897 shotguns are used as long as they are single loaded, I don't see why a Model 1877 or 1878 couldn't be used as long as it was manually cocked for each shot.

I wouldn't mind seeing a replica of the Model 1878 Frontier revolver in .45 Colt or .44/40 be made either, but neither of these designs are really practical, even with modern materials incorporated in the production.

The internal design makes for an extremely heavy double action trigger pull and a very weak locking system, even with modern materials.

A better double action design for serious shooting would be the Merwin & Hulbert Army and Navy revolver, especially if it was made with a quick switch barrel option as the originals were.
 


​
Old Fuff said:
No one makes a true reproduction of the Colt Model 1877 (Incorrectly called a Lightning - Colt assigned that name to a rifle)
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You are partially wrong; yes, Colt named their pump action rifle the Lighting, but the 1877 .32 Colt and .38 Colt was also named Lightening. The .41 Colt was named the Thunderer.
 
... but the 1877 .32 Colt and .38 Colt was also named Lightening. The .41 Colt was named the Thunderer.
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Nope. Colt had nothing to do with those names. They were thought up and used by one distributor in their advertising. They also named the model 1878 the "Omnipotent." Years later gun collectors latched onto these names.
 
It is not impossible to find the originals, in working order. I found one in a pawn shop.
 
Browning: I know. I was just being silly. Colt's double-action .38 Lightning and .41 Thunderer do kind of resemble the SAA, though. That's what I was getting at.

At any rate, good luck finding an original in working order. Rexster is most likely the exception to the rule if he does indeed have a working .38 Lightning. The guns were very prone to malfunction. Their lockwork, as Fuff mentioned, is extremely complex. If you find one in working order, you would be foolish to shoot it: 1)they are fairly valuable guns, and 2) if you break it while shooting it, good luck finding parts for it.
 
This is one case where someone should come out with an updated, modern action in a historic-looking package.

A functional, reliable DA cowboy-type gun sounds like a pretty good seller.

Maybe Ruger should give it a try.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah! Give me a Blackhawk with double action and a swing out cylinder and I'll be a happy camper! :D If I could find such a thing I'd probably be buried with it....
 
BigBlock said:
Oh yeah! Give me a Blackhawk with double action and a swing out cylinder and I'll be a happy camper! If I could find such a thing I'd probably be buried with it....
Click to expand...

I doubt you'll ever see much that's closer to that than a Ruger Redhawk.

58L.jpg
 
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