Added to the Ships Armory, Another Colt's Revolver

[Charles Isaac]

Surprisingly smooth, easy to handle and the grip is a great design as far as small grips go. Sends a 200 grain bullet at 700+fps, so I imagine it's somewhat of a handful in such a small gun. I still need to get all the stuff to make the cartridges for it before I shoot it and it will be black powder only out of this one.

Always wanted one of these, seeing how they're Colt's first production double action.

1877 Colt's .41 Caliber "Thunderer"

[Niederlander]

Be very careful with that thing, as they have a terrible reputation for breaking.  (In fact, it's fairly rare to find one that actually works properly.)  It should be fun to shoot, though! 

[Charles Isaac]

Col Pitspitr know about that? I bet we can make him grimace. When he's watching, I'll just hand it to you so you can shoot it!

[St. George]

These are notoriously difficult to work on - their springs break often, and getting them properly fitted is a chore.

Most gunsmiths won't work on them.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Niederlander]

Col Pitspitr know about that? I bet we can make him grimace. When he's watching, I'll just hand it to you so you can shoot it!

If I shot it, the barrel would probably fall off, or the trigger would break off, etc.!

[Books OToole]

The number one rule regarding the early Colt DAs (1877 & 1878):

Never shoot them single-action.


The hammer travel is twice as long for SA and puts too much strain on the springs.

Books

[Short Knife Johnson]

Just taking a peek in my copy of "Shooting Sixguns of the Old West" by Mike Venturino.  It says nothing about firing them SA rather than DA is harder on them.  In fact, I remember being told the opposite, but that's neither here nor there.

He mentions two gunsmiths he knows of that will work on them.  Tom Sargis I believe of Big Timber MT, but there is no contact info given, and Frank Leaman of Mokelume Hill CA.  Not sure how current the information is though.

[Charles Isaac]

I have heard not to fire them single action, and cocking the hammer really feels to me like the springs are being stressed. This example works as perfectly as when it was new, but springs are available and I plan on installing a set so that the originals may be preserved. 

These may be difficult to work on, but for a long time, I have had a theory that the reliability of these pistols may not be so bad as is rumored. John Hardin, Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday (to name a few) were known to actually bet their lives on them, and they remained in production into the 20th century. John Hardin was know to be an intelligent man, and was carrying one when he was killed in 1895. I believe that having been supplanted by modern, more durable and faster loading designs, there was a lack of interest in getting them fixed when they broke. Also, 100+ years has taken it's toll on many of the surviving specimens.

Still, I don't trust it enough to use it for a carry gun, but it is a part of history, and it was there, but I have still only found 2 people that shoot these nowadays.

I understand that, along with the GAF, NCOWS acknowledges that these pistols actually existed and were in production from 1877 until the end of the Frontier Era, were used on the frontier, and that they are welcomed on the firing line at NCOWS events.

[River City John]

I have heard not to fire them single action, and cocking the hammer really feels to me like the springs are being stressed. This example works as perfectly as when it was new, but springs are available and I plan on installing a set so that the originals may be preserved. 

These may be difficult to work on, but for a long time, I have had a theory that the reliability of these pistols may not be so bad as is rumored. John Hardin, Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday (to name a few) were known to actually bet their lives on them, and they remained in production into the 20th century. John Hardin was know to be an intelligent man, and was carrying one when he was killed in 1895. I believe that having been supplanted by modern, more durable and faster loading designs, there was a lack of interest in getting them fixed when they broke. Also, 100+ years has taken it's toll on many of the surviving specimens.

Still, I don't trust it enough to use it for a carry gun, but it is a part of history, and it was there, but I have still only found 2 people that shoot these nowadays.

I understand that, along with the GAF, NCOWS acknowledges that these pistols actually existed and were in production from 1877 until the end of the Frontier Era, were used on the frontier, and that they are welcomed on the firing line at NCOWS events.

You are very correct, Sir Isaac.

As a matter of fact, weekend after this coming one is the infamous Kansas Vigilance Committee's 2-Gun Shoot, with the Double Action Championship on Sunday. Beautiful setting on the Kansas plains at Wight's Station outside of Garnett, KS, where all will camp primitive and there will be a chuck wagon preparing meals.
The KVC are notorious for creating diabolical stages. There will be 8 stages in all, written with a Hunting theme, and designed for one sidearm and a rifle. Any other arms called for will be staged for everyone and ammunition provided by KVC. You'll see a lot of double actions in use Sunday for sure.

Lot's of GAF people also belong to NCOWS.

RCJ

[Charles Isaac]

That is great Sir, I wish that NCOWS was local to me so that I could shoot with more like-minded people.

[Niederlander]

That is great Sir, I wish that NCOWS was local to me so that I could shoot with more like-minded people.

You should come shoot with us (although I realize it's a bit of a drive!)  We allow period double actions, autos, bolt guns, and whatever else was actually used at the time.  It's fun seeing all that stuff being used again!

P.S.  As far as the early Colt double actions go, a friend of mine has probably owned a dozen or more, and probably not more than two or three worked.  They are such a handy size that I think a lot of them got carried for that reason alone.  The gun you have with you beats the heck out of the bigger, more effective one that's at home in a drawer.  I think that if Colt had made that gun in a reliable single action, they'd have seriously outsold the SAA because they were such a handy size.

[Pitspitr]

Col Pitspitr know about that? I bet we can make him grimace. When he's watching, I'll just hand it to you so you can shoot it!

If you let Ned shoot it, it's practically guaranteed to break. He has someting of a reputation to uphold, you know?  After all he's the only person I know who has actually broken a Garand.

[Drydock]

Did'nt Ned say once he broke a Mosin-Nagant?   

[Niederlander]

I've never broken one of those, but I've broken an M1(Firing Pin),M1A(Operating Rod),Glock 21(Extractor),Remington 870(Ejector),Ruger Mini-14(Rear Sight Detent),Ruger Vaquero(Transfer Bar),Winchester 1894(Firing Pin),AR-15(Charging Handle),pretty much every spring on various Single Actions, and let's not forget the Krag bayonet from last year.  Yes, it's a curse!

[litl rooster]

Still, I don't trust it enough to use it for a carry gun, but it is a part of history, and it was there, but I have still only found 2 people that shoot these nowadays.

I shoot mine on special occassions....Like I'm bored out of my mind day   I loaded up some Black powder ammo both heeled and hollow base both. Trust me on this, it's cheaper to buy the factory loads. Unless you plan on shooting it every week.  You won't find used dies new ones are expensive. Crimping the heeled bullets is a pain in the ___ .  IMO These guns would bring premiun moneys, If the repairs and the ammo was not an issue.  They are classier looking than a Peacemaker


How do you break a Garand?



http://www.bozemantrailarms.com/     <<<<Tom Sargis


http://harryo.sixshootercommunity.org/   <<<<useful for reloading

[Pitspitr]

How do you break a Garand?

Ned's talented (cursed?) that way!