1878 Colt DA with PICTURES ADDED!!!

[royal barnes]

  Just had to make an announcement!! I just acquired an 1878 Colt DA Army revolver in good condition for about 1/3 of book value. It was built in 1889 and exterior parts appear to be original.
Once I do a little more checking I will load up some moderate black powder loads in Schofield cases and shoot her for the fun of it. The other neat thing is it came with a period 2 loop Mexican style holster in good condition that, based on wear pattern, has been with the gun a loooong time. A good gun for NCOWS.

[St. George]

Good for you!

Everyone needs to find a treasure once in awhile and it looks like this one's yours.

Just remember that the springs on those old Colts can be a bit 'tired', by this stage - so go slow and enjoy shooting it.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Irish Dave]

Sounds great, Royal.

SG's right, we all deserve a bit of good luck once in a while.
Enjoy.

[Pawnee Bill]

Just had to make an announcement!! I just acquired an 1878 Colt DA Army revolver in good condition for about 1/3 of book value. It was built in 1889 and exterior parts appear to be original.
Once I do a little more checking I will load up some moderate black powder loads in Schofield cases and shoot her for the fun of it. The other neat thing is it came with a period 2 loop Mexican style holster in good condition that, based on wear pattern, has been with the gun a loooong time. A good gun for NCOWS.

I acuired one years back under very strange circumstances.
I came home from a weekend out and my wwI mule saddle was missing and a near mint 78DA was sitting on my kicthen table.
Cheers
Pawnee Bill

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Royal,
You ought to post a photo of it here so we ALL can admire it....

Bill

[royal barnes]

OCB, Being just barely computer literate ( I'm a Beta man in a DVD world) I will have to get my son-in-law to do the honors. Hopefully soon.

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy Royal,

Way to go!  Anxious to see the pictures.  Be sure to show the holster too.

I can see keyboard across the land shored out with the drool!! 

[Frog69]

Great..... another DA shooter. For those that know me I shoot 1878 colts in NCOWS and have for many years....... I recommend, with your new find that you learn to shoot it in DA and don't lighten the springs (that will cause you some other problems) ... you will find you will have a lot less problems with the 1878... in fact I have a 1878 that I have shot for the last 3 years and 1000s of rounds (black powder only) at NCOWs events with NO trouble at all. One of the keys to these guns is that it was NOT designed to be used as a single action even if the 1878 were able to operate in SA. In SA it has a tendency to over flex the mainspring as well as effect the timing when used in SA while trying to shoot for speed.
Love to see people move past a SA army and try something new....

[RattlesnakeJack]

Mmmm ... sounds grand!  What caliber?

I find this particulalrly interesting because Canada's second acquisition of handguns for military issue was a total of 1001 (odd number ...  ) Model 1878 Colt DA revolvers purchased in 1885 through Hartley & Graham in New York.  Chambered for .45 Colt, nickle plated, 7 1/2" barrels, black gutta percha grips, in this configuration -



They were acquired in considerable haste early in 1885 because of the outbreak of the North West Rebellion, since the only handguns the Dept. of Militia & Defence had were what was left of several hundred Model 1851 London Colt Navy revolvers acquired in 1855.  In addition to active service during the Rebellion, they were used to equip the First Contingent of Canadian troops sent to South Africa in late 1899, for Boer War service .... 

[royal barnes]

The pictures appear to be OK. The gun is chambered in .45 Colt. Bore is about 50% with pitting but lots of visible rifling. No rust on the gun that I can find. Action is tight.  It has been carried a lot. Holster wear on the barrel and cylinder and very noticeable wear on the grips. The holster is commercial manufacture with no makers name that I can find. It is made of thin leather, probably 4-5 oz. The roll stamping is not very deep and there is a commercial stamping at the top of the part covering the cylinder. It is either I80 or 180. The holster has been restitched at least twice in various places one being the toe where the barrel pushed through. Leather is worn but not dried out or cracked. I may get a Colt letter on this one. Maybe it was ordered by John Wesley Hardin!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ottawa Creek Bill]

Royal,
Awesome gun, and with the holster no less!! Definitely get a Colt letter, well worth the cost iof knowing the history of the revolver...nice find.

Bill

[St. George]

'Very' nice rig...

The holster's typical of a Dry Goods holster - and you 'might' find a maker's stamp behind the holster body - hidden by the loop.

Many were marked - more weren't - but you never know.

'JB Cleaning Compound' makes a bore paste that might clean up more of the rifling.
Use as directed.

Congratulations on your treasure.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Congratulations, pard. I love the old DA's. You got a good one. It's good to see people still finding these now and then.

[RRio]

Mighty fine, mighty fine!

I agree with OCB, definitly get the letter!

[Bristow Kid]

Thats one fire piece of history.  And a sweet pistol as well.