Colt M1877
Colt's first double-action revolver, known as Lightning, Thunderer, or Rainmaker.
The Colt M1877 was a double-action revolver produced by Colt's Patent Fire Arms from January 1877 through 1909, with a total of 166,849 units made. It was chambered in three calibers, each with an unofficial nickname: the "Thunderer" for .41 Long Colt, the "Lightning" for .38 Long Colt, and the "Rainmaker" for .32 Long Colt. All versions held six rounds.
William Mason, a co-designer of the Colt Single Action Army, created the M1877 as Colt’s first attempt at a double-action revolver. It was the first successful American-made double-action cartridge revolver. The factory offered two basic finishes: nickel-plated or blued with a case-colored frame. Barrel lengths varied, and the revolver could be ordered with or without an ejector rod and housing. Shorter-barreled models without the ejector rod were marketed as "shopkeeper's specials" for concealed carry.
The names "Lightning" and "Thunderer" were not official Colt designations; they came from Benjamin Kittredge, a major Colt distributor. Kittredge also coined "Peacemaker" for the Single Action Army, "Omnipotent" for the Colt M1878, and nicknames for various New Line models.
The M1877’s early double-action mechanism was intricate and delicate, making it prone to failure during self-cocking. It earned a poor reputation and the nickname "the watchmaker's nightmare." Gunsmiths still dislike working on them due to the complex design. Gun Digest called it "the worst double-action trigger mechanism ever made." The trigger spring often failed, reducing the revolver to single-action fire only. Outwardly, the M1877 resembles a scaled-down Colt Single Action Army. Early guns had checkered rosewood bird's head grips; later ones used hard rubber. Throughout its production, the M1877 was never rated for smokeless powder. Boxes near the end of production carried a warning: "NOT ADAPTED FOR SMOKELESS POWDER." All M1877 revolvers should be treated as black powder cartridge guns only.
The "Lightning" was the favored personal weapon of Manchester detective Jerome Caminada. Outlaw John Wesley Hardin frequently used both "Lightning" and "Thunderer" versions. Billy the Kid preferred the "Thunderer," carrying it when Pat Garrett killed him in 1881. Doc Holliday carried a nickel-plated "Thunderer" in his waistband alongside his nickel-plated Single Action Army; both revolvers had ivory or pearl grips.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United States
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Used By
- Cowboys, Lawmen, American Old West bandits and outlaws, hunters
- Wars
- American Indian Wars, North-West Rebellion, Spanish-American War
- Designer
- William Mason
- Design Date
- 1877
- Production Date
- –1909
- Number
- 166,849
- Spec Label
- for .41 caliber model
- Weight
- 24 ounces
- Length
- 9.06 inches
- Part Length
- 4.41 inches
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The M1877 was designed by William Mason, who also contributed to the Colt Single Action Army. It was Colt's first attempt at manufacturing a double-action revolver and the first successful US-made double-action cartridge revolver. The revolver was available in barrel lengths from to inches, with or without the ejector rod and housing. Shorter-barreled versions without the ejector rod were marketed as 'shopkeeper's specials' for concealable pocket use. The names 'Lightning', 'Thunderer', and 'Rainmaker' were not Colt designations but were coined by Benjamin Kittredge, a major Colt distributor who also coined 'Peacemaker' for the Single Action Army. The M1877's early double-action mechanism was intricate and delicate, vulnerable to failure of self-cocking, earning it the nickname 'the watchmaker's nightmare'. The trigger spring often failed, reducing the revolver to single-action fire only. Gun Digest referred to it as 'the worst double-action trigger mechanism ever made'. Outwardly, the M1877 resembles the Colt Single Action Army but is scaled down and smaller. The bird's head grips were checkered rosewood on early guns and hard rubber on later guns. Throughout production, the M1877 was never rated for smokeless powder; late-production boxes bore the warning 'NOT ADAPTED FOR SMOKELESS POWDER'.
Reader's Guide
The Colt M1877 holds significance as Colt's first successful double-action cartridge revolver, bridging the gap between single-action designs and more modern double-action mechanisms. Despite its mechanical fragility—earning it the nickname 'the watchmaker's nightmare' and a reputation as 'the worst double-action trigger mechanism ever made'—it saw substantial production of 166,849 units over three decades. Its three calibers, marketed under unofficial names coined by distributor Benjamin Kittredge, gave it broad appeal. The M1877 was carried by notable figures: the 'Lightning' was favored by Manchester detective Jerome Caminada; outlaw John Wesley Hardin used both 'Lightning' and 'Thunderer' versions; Billy the Kid preferred the 'Thunderer', carrying it when he was killed; and Doc Holliday carried a nickel-plated 'Thunderer' as a backup to his Single Action Army. In popular culture, the song '41 Thunderer' by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer references the .41 Long Colt Thunderer, and the 1993 film Tombstone depicts Doc Holliday carrying an 1877 Colt Lightning. The M1877's legacy is that of a pioneering but flawed design, remembered for its association with Old West figures and its role in the evolution of double-action revolvers.
Did You Know?
- The M1877 was designed by William Mason, one of the inventors of the Colt Single Action Army.
- The names 'Lightning', 'Thunderer', and 'Rainmaker' were coined by distributor Benjamin Kittredge, not by Colt.
- The M1877 earned the nickname 'the watchmaker's nightmare' due to its intricate and delicate double-action mechanism.
- Billy the Kid carried a 'Thunderer' when he was killed by Pat Garrett in 1881.
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