Occasionally, I like to post older guns here. While I realize the majority of topics pertain to more modern guns, I find these older guns fascinating and hope that by sharing, someone might gain an appreciation for the guns that came before.

Today's gun: the Colt Model 1878 Double Action revolver.

The Colt Model of 1878 represented a major departure in design philosophy from that firmly established by Sam Colt when he started the Colt Patent Firearms Company. This model was the first large frame, large caliber, double-action handgun to be produced by Colt, and was a hybrid between their incredibly successful Model 1873 Single Action Army and the Model 1877 Double Action Revolver that had been introduced the previous year.

During his lifetime, Samuel Colt had repeatedly argued that double action revolvers were difficult to shoot due to their heavy trigger pulls and were unsafe when compared to single action models. However, less than 20 years after his death, the company that he created dove headfirst into the double action revolver market, and never looked back.

The M-1878 was Colt’s first big bore double action revolver, but it still resembled the single action variants. It was manufactured from 1878 until 1907. It is often referred to as the "Frontier" or the "Double Action Army." It had a frame-mounted gate through which the gun was loaded and unloaded, just like a single action revolver. It would be six more years before Colt would revolutionize double-action revolvers with the swing-out cylinder design of the M-1889 revolver. The 1878 paved the way for Colt to become the leading American manufacturer of double action revolvers from the late 19th through the mid-20th centuries.

Like most Colt revolvers of the time, the Model 1878 was available in a variety of finishes, barrel lengths and calibers. The standard finishes were blued or nickel-plated, with hard rubber grips. Engraving, special adornments and fancy grips were always available options. The barrel lengths were the same as the Single Action Army, with 4 “, 5 1/2““ and 7 1/2““ being standard, but longer and shorter barrels (often without ejector rods) being available as well.

The revolver had a six shot, fluted cylinder, which was loaded and unloaded through a pivoting gate that was located on the right side of the frame. The cartridges were removed via a manual, spring-loaded ejector rod, mounted along the lower right side of the barrel, like that on the Single Action Army. An oval shaped, swiveling lanyard loop was mounted on the butt of the bird’s head grip of most of the revolvers.

Although the Model 1878 never achieved the level of success of the Single Action Army, a variety of western notables, including Buffalo Bill Cody, Pawnee Bill Lilly and Rowdy Joe Lowe all owned and used Colt Double Action Frontier revolvers.

My example of the Colt Model 1878 was shipped from the Colt factory to Liddle & Kaeding of San Francisco in November 1879. It is chambered in .45 Colt, is factory nickel-plated and shipped with ivory grips and a 7 1/2 inch barrel. Edited to add that this example has the wider grips that were on the first few thousand made, thereafter being narrowed. Somewhere along the line the barrel has been shortened to 5 1/2 inches (likely in the 1880s when shorter-barreled revolvers were more popular). The gun came with a very old Mexican loop holster in which the Colt fits like a glove. They've been together for a long time.

Pictured below, my 1878 is paired with a Whitney Kennedy lever action rifle from 1882.

I hope you enjoy.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mojojojo,

Went straight to the photos and wondered if this was a stylophiles post!

Awesome weapons and photos.

Saw a Colt 36 caliber black powder Navy the other day and took a lot to pass on it. My heart is set on a Ruger Army converted for centerfire like my man Cee_Kamp, who feeds me Ruger Porn.

Very nice combo of classic firearms.
I have almost purchased a Colt 1877 revolver (.41 Long Colt or .38 Long) several times. I am yet to take the plunge.

Lock N Load

Michael
USMC Ret

Question..being as there are no bolt notches on its cylinder, did Colt achieve lock up at the back of the cylinder ? And how ? Thanks..

I recall reading that Billy the Kid used the 1878.

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
Question..being as there are no bolt notches on its cylinder, did Colt achieve lock up at the back of the cylinder ? And how ? Thanks..

This gives a much better explanation than I can (but yes, the hand pushes on back of the cylinder for rotation).

A friend had his Grandmother's 78. Impressive.

1878 Trivia
The barrel threads are the same as 1873, you will sometimes see one used on the other.

The cylinder is the same size as 1873. Colt cut bolt notches in some left over after the 78 was discontinued and put them on SAAs. Collectors call them the "Long Flute" SAAs.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I recall reading that Billy the Kid used the 1878.

I believe it was an 1877 that he reportedly used.

Have you measured the D/A trigger pull weight? I’ve read that they were pretty heavy.

The 1902 "Alaskan Model" had a huge trigger guard and a long trigger. Often thought to be for a gloved hand, I think it was to get more leverage against a tough trigger pull.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Watson:
I think it was to get more leverage against a tough trigger pull.

Correct. Due to the unreliability or period ammunition, to ensure the round would fire required a more robust strike from the hammer. In order to achieve that the hammer was mode to be more forceful (I think by adjusting or changing the spring or something similar). As the hammer was more stiff, more leverage was needed for pulling the trigger, hence the large trigger guard et al.

I believe that is explained in the video linked if I remember correctly.