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Special Interests - Groups & Societies => Colt Firearms => Topic started by: Rube Burrows on March 14, 2025, 09:16:47 AM

Title: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 14, 2025, 09:16:47 AM
Growing up in the 80s-90s Young Guns was among my favorite westerns and that gave me a real affection for the Colt 1877.

Several years ago I bought my first 1877 and in my excitement at finally finding one locally I failed to notice that it was the shorter barrel with no ejection rod. While the gun was a very pretty nickel I just never really cared for the shorter barrel and no ejector so I ended up trading it or selling it.

Well, I have really been having a hankering for one that was more to my liking. I finally found one that picked it up a couple days ago. I am more than happy with what I have now.



 

Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Hair Trigger Jim on March 14, 2025, 09:52:23 AM
Very nice!
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 14, 2025, 10:37:32 AM
Quote from: Hair Trigger Jim on March 14, 2025, 09:52:23 AMVery nice!

Thank you.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Coffinmaker on March 14, 2025, 12:16:58 PM

 :) Sobs quietly in the closet ;)

 :) Sever drooling.  REALLY sever DROOLING :o

Sobbing quietly in the closet . . . AGAIN

 ::) Rube.  I think I hate you  8)
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Black River Smith on March 14, 2025, 01:12:49 PM
Quote from: Coffinmaker on March 14, 2025, 12:16:58 PM:) Sobs quietly in the closet ;)

 :) Sever drooling.  REALLY sever DROOLING :o

Sobbing quietly in the closet . . . AGAIN

 ::) Rube.  I think I hate you  8)

Total agrrrreeee with Coffinmaker.

That is so nice looking no matter what was done to it, it is a Colt and looks beautiful, now.

So! that is what the 41 Colt tool is for.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Hair Trigger Jim on March 14, 2025, 01:30:23 PM
So that's why you sold the Schofields?
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Abilene on March 14, 2025, 05:49:03 PM
Wow, blued models are rare!  I don't know if that was refinished but who cares, it looks great!
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: DeaconKC on March 14, 2025, 08:50:21 PM
Oh, that's nice!
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Coffinmaker on March 15, 2025, 08:48:41 AM

 :)  Still off sobbing quietly inna closet  ::)
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Coffinmaker on March 15, 2025, 08:57:55 AM

 :) Ah Yes, Most Forgot ;)

Back some Lustrum or so, twas a Movie (Believe twas Sherlock Holmes) and this really nice looking CRAZY lady stepped out with a Nickel seven and a half inch, 1877 in each hand, firing away.  I seriously lusted for those two guns. 
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: RoyceP on March 15, 2025, 08:58:13 PM
Looks very nice! I would provide a range report ASAP!
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Coal Creek Griff on March 15, 2025, 10:12:21 PM
Quote from: Coffinmaker on March 15, 2025, 08:57:55 AM:) Ah Yes, Most Forgot ;)

Back some Lustrum or so, twas a Movie (Believe twas Sherlock Holmes) and this really nice looking CRAZY lady stepped out with a Nickel seven and a half inch, 1877 in each hand, firing away.  I seriously lusted for those two guns. 
Something like...

(https://imfdb.org/images/thumb/d/de/SherlockTAB_01.jpg/320px-SherlockTAB_01.jpg)
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Coffinmaker on March 16, 2025, 09:04:32 AM

 :)  Coal Creek  ;)

YUEPPER!!  Dat be da "Lady" and those be Da Gunz.  I've always wondered where they got TWO functioning Seven-n-Half '77s for the film.  Da Lady be a Gunfighter too  ;D
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 17, 2025, 07:14:02 PM
Quote from: Coffinmaker on March 14, 2025, 12:16:58 PM:) Sobs quietly in the closet ;)

 :) Sever drooling.  REALLY sever DROOLING :o

Sobbing quietly in the closet . . . AGAIN

 ::) Rube.  I think I hate you  8)

 ;D  ;D

This one really is a beauty. That said, the half cock was not engaging so I took it apart. I felt it was time for me to learn how the 1877 Colt really works. I have heard all the stories about how these are boogers to work on. After trying and trying (4 or 5 times) to get it back together properly I finally had a light bulb go off and understook how the action works. I was on my last spring and screw when I broke one of the 120 year old springs. I have a set of springs ordered so when it arrives I will be able to put it back together and hopefully it will last another 120 years.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 17, 2025, 07:15:17 PM
Quote from: Black River Smith on March 14, 2025, 01:12:49 PMTotal agrrrreeee with Coffinmaker.

That is so nice looking no matter what was done to it, it is a Colt and looks beautiful, now.

So! that is what the 41 Colt tool is for.

Yes, I was curious about if one of the handtools were ever made.

Yesterday at the gun show I had two more Colts follow me home. A 1877 but this time in .38 and a 1878 in 45 Colt.

Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 17, 2025, 07:16:00 PM
Quote from: Hair Trigger Jim on March 14, 2025, 01:30:23 PMSo that's why you sold the Schofields?

Yes, I managed to turn those two Taylor's Schofields into three real Colts.

Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 17, 2025, 07:17:29 PM
Quote from: Abilene on March 14, 2025, 05:49:03 PMWow, blued models are rare!  I don't know if that was refinished but who cares, it looks great!

I don't know 100% but I am guessing it has. Some times it seems like its original but it's so nice overall I think it had to have been redone, but many years ago.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 17, 2025, 07:17:51 PM
Quote from: DeaconKC on March 14, 2025, 08:50:21 PMOh, that's nice!

Thanks pard.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 17, 2025, 07:18:59 PM
Quote from: Coffinmaker on March 15, 2025, 08:57:55 AM:) Ah Yes, Most Forgot ;)

Back some Lustrum or so, twas a Movie (Believe twas Sherlock Holmes) and this really nice looking CRAZY lady stepped out with a Nickel seven and a half inch, 1877 in each hand, firing away.  I seriously lusted for those two guns. 

Dang, she was handling her business
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 17, 2025, 07:20:21 PM
Quote from: RoyceP on March 15, 2025, 08:58:13 PMLooks very nice! I would provide a range report ASAP!

For sure. It will be a little bit though. I need to gather up some reloading stuff for it and the .38 Colt 77 that I picked up also. Buying three Colts in a week has left my fun money on the dry side for a little bit.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 17, 2025, 07:22:06 PM
I know someone will ask so here are the other two that followed me home this weekend.

Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Abilene on March 17, 2025, 08:25:22 PM
yeehaa!
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Coffinmaker on March 18, 2025, 09:21:24 AM

 :) Hey RUBE!!  :D

Yum-a-de Yum Yum you betcha.

Is your Knew-Two-Ewe .38 actually .38 Colt or .375 bore, needing heal base bullets??
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 18, 2025, 12:15:17 PM
Quote from: Coffinmaker on March 18, 2025, 09:21:24 AM:) Hey RUBE!!  :D

Yum-a-de Yum Yum you betcha.

Is your Knew-Two-Ewe .38 actually .38 Colt or .375 bore, needing heal base bullets??

I have not slugged to see the actual barrel specs yet. Since I was not planning on the .38 revolver I have not done anything yet to see what I will need to reload for it. It was more of a spur of the moment purchase.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 18, 2025, 12:15:33 PM
Quote from: Abilene on March 17, 2025, 08:25:22 PMyeehaa!

 ;D
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Abilene on March 28, 2025, 03:46:23 PM
Hey Rube, just saw the video about the trouble getting one of the guns to work.  It's good that you have another to compare to!  I have David Chicoine's book Gunsmithing Guns of the Old West which has 4 pages on the 1877.  I can scan those and email them to you if you'd like, just send me your email address in a PM.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Black River Smith on March 28, 2025, 05:08:09 PM
Rube, after Abilene's comment, I did go in an watch your video.  I have your youtube saved, to watch your firearms and shooting sessions.
I don't know if the lightning is built internally like the Thunderer but here is a video of dismantling and cleaning.  Maybe it will give you an idea of 'what is missing or what is happening'.  This guy had an issue with a spring and an oldtime makeshift fix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQkzA5EiWQ4
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 31, 2025, 03:52:30 PM
Quote from: Abilene on March 28, 2025, 03:46:23 PMHey Rube, just saw the video about the trouble getting one of the guns to work.  It's good that you have another to compare to!  I have David Chicoine's book Gunsmithing Guns of the Old West which has 4 pages on the 1877.  I can scan those and email them to you if you'd like, just send me your email address in a PM.

Just saw this and I would love to have those emailed to me if you don't mind.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Rube Burrows on March 31, 2025, 03:54:23 PM
Quote from: Black River Smith on March 28, 2025, 05:08:09 PMRube, after Abilene's comment, I did go in an watch your video.  I have your youtube saved, to watch your firearms and shooting sessions.
I don't know if the lightning is built internally like the Thunderer but here is a video of dismantling and cleaning.  Maybe it will give you an idea of 'what is missing or what is happening'.  This guy had an issue with a spring and an oldtime makeshift fix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQkzA5EiWQ4

I have watched just about every video I can find on YouTube. It helped me figure out how to put it all back together properly. I am confident that I have it back correctly. I am in the process of replacing each part because I am not exactly sure how to trouble shoot what part is not working correctly.
Title: Re: Picked Up Another Colt 1877 Thunderer
Post by: Abilene on March 31, 2025, 04:05:42 PM
Quote from: Rube Burrows on Yesterday at 03:52:30 PMJust saw this and I would love to have those emailed to me if you don't mind.
Send me your email address in a PM.