ID SA Colt??

Ed Brunner · February 16, 2002, 10:23 AM

A friend got hold of a Colt that we are trying to ID. It is a single action revolver, appears to be .38 cal with a 5 1/2" barrel. On the barrel it has Colts Pt F.A. Mfg Co Hartford CT USA. On the side of the frame below the cylinder it has Pat. Sep 19 xx, Sep 5 xx, Jan 19 , 75.
It has a Bisley type round butt with what appear to be hard rubber grips. It was nickle plated but most is worn off. It came with a holster which appears to have a stainless steel belt loop and appears to be very old. Need ID and value.
Any help will be apppeciated

Harley Nolden · February 16, 2002, 11:46 AM

I am posting two Colt Revolvers that sound similar to that which you describe. Do either of them look like the Revolver you have?

HJN

Harley Nolden · February 16, 2002, 11:48 AM

This is the 2nd Colt-2

HJN

Ed Brunner · February 16, 2002, 01:37 PM

It is more like the first. It isn't a SAA. The frame is smaller and the grip is more like a bird's head than a Bisley. Maybe I can get a photo.

Jim Watson · February 16, 2002, 03:01 PM

Based on the patent dates, caliber, size, and round butt, you have a Colt Lightning. It is a gate loading, rod extracting double action with a superficial resemblance to a SAA. They are notoriously fragile mechanically, so yours might very well be out of order to where it would not function double action.

I 'm not going to guess on the value, but in the condition described, it won't be great.

Oh, yeah, made from 1877 til 1912.

Ed Brunner · February 16, 2002, 03:41 PM

It IS single action. It has the loading gate and ejector rod, but it is single action.

Ed Brunner · February 16, 2002, 05:14 PM

I have looked at a bunch of photos on the web and it surely looks like the Colt Lightning. I didn't really examine it but I sure thought it was single action. I will have another look Monday.

Thanks to all.

Harley Nolden · February 17, 2002, 05:56 AM

Maybe you looked at it with the hammer cocked?

Does this look more like it?

HJN

February 16, 2002, 10:23 AM	#1
Ed Brunner Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1998 Location: Natchez, MS, USA Posts: 2,562	ID SA Colt?? A friend got hold of a Colt that we are trying to ID. It is a single action revolver, appears to be .38 cal with a 5 1/2" barrel. On the barrel it has Colts Pt F.A. Mfg Co Hartford CT USA. On the side of the frame below the cylinder it has Pat. Sep 19 xx, Sep 5 xx, Jan 19 , 75. It has a Bisley type round butt with what appear to be hard rubber grips. It was nickle plated but most is worn off. It came with a holster which appears to have a stainless steel belt loop and appears to be very old. Need ID and value. Any help will be apppeciated __________________ MOLON LABE UNTIL IT'S OVER! Ed

February 16, 2002, 01:37 PM	#4
Ed Brunner Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1998 Location: Natchez, MS, USA Posts: 2,562	It is more like the first. It isn't a SAA. The frame is smaller and the grip is more like a bird's head than a Bisley. Maybe I can get a photo. __________________ MOLON LABE UNTIL IT'S OVER! Ed

February 16, 2002, 03:41 PM	#6
Ed Brunner Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1998 Location: Natchez, MS, USA Posts: 2,562	It IS single action. It has the loading gate and ejector rod, but it is single action. __________________ MOLON LABE UNTIL IT'S OVER! Ed

February 16, 2002, 05:14 PM	#7
Ed Brunner Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 1998 Location: Natchez, MS, USA Posts: 2,562	I have looked at a bunch of photos on the web and it surely looks like the Colt Lightning. I didn't really examine it but I sure thought it was single action. I will have another look Monday. Thanks to all. __________________ MOLON LABE UNTIL IT'S OVER! Ed

February 17, 2002, 05:56 AM	#8
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	Maybe you looked at it with the hammer cocked? Does this look more like it? HJN Last edited by Harley Nolden; February 17, 2002 at 03:26 PM.

February 16, 2002, 11:46 AM	#2
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	I am posting two Colt Revolvers that sound similar to that which you describe. Do either of them look like the Revolver you have? HJN

February 16, 2002, 11:48 AM	#3
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	This is the 2nd Colt-2 HJN

February 16, 2002, 03:01 PM	#5
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Based on the patent dates, caliber, size, and round butt, you have a Colt Lightning. It is a gate loading, rod extracting double action with a superficial resemblance to a SAA. They are notoriously fragile mechanically, so yours might very well be out of order to where it would not function double action. I 'm not going to guess on the value, but in the condition described, it won't be great. Oh, yeah, made from 1877 til 1912.