I need to id a Colt da 38 revolver

R

reble

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I have a Colt DA 38 single action revolver that I got at a yard sale for $100.00. It was in a ziplock bag all taken apart. I have found online exploding parts picture that was close enough to be able to get it put back together. Please look at the Dropbox links bellow for the 2 pictures. I need to know what model it is because it is missing the main hammer spring, the push rod to push out the expended shell casing and the base pin and bushing for the cylinder are bent and mangled. The cylinder doesn't turn freely. I think (I am not sure) if the part that turns the cylinder after each shot is missing. I need to find the right exploding parts picture with part numbers so I can replace the parts. I hope someone can id this revolver or it will end up as a wall hanger (I am not into collecting wall hangers). Thanks

Also the following dates are stamped on the left side of the frame just above the forward trigger guard screw. Sept-18-1871, Sept-15-1874 and Jan-19-1875. And a set of numbers 125861

In this picture is the way I got the Colt 38
https://www.dropbox.com/s/iewi1doywwj4cuq/colt 38 in pieces.JPG?dl=0

In this picture the Colt 38 is all together minus the missing parts
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9h41yd6px5847e5/colt-38.JPG?dl=0

Steve
 
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That sure looks like a model 1877 "Lightning", and from your description in .38 Long Colt. I have an early one in .41 Long Colt. Parts are hard to come by, but there are a few places that sell some. There are some real experts on the Colt forum. You can check the serial number on line to get a manufacture date. That is Colt's first double action revolver.
 
WOW...you really scored for $100!

get that thing working again, it is a piece of history....the link between the single actions and the modern double action revolvers.

Lemme know if you want to sell it :D
 
These guns are notoriously difficult to work on because they are so complex. Even back when they were commonly available many gunsmiths simply wouldn't work on them because they were so frustrating.

There's a story that when Frank Pachmayer was young and apprenticing in his Father's gunshop he became so frustrated trying to get a Lightning to work that he finally threw it (either through or out) the window.

His Father made him pick it up and finish fixing it.

It's pretty rare to see a fully functional Lightning or Thunderer.
 
Based in the info I got here I found the exploding parts picture and parts list for the 1877 thunder at Numrich gun parts http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Colt-33188/Revolvers-35751/1877Thunderer-37987.htm . From looking over the picture I see that besides missing the hammer spring, Ejector Rod and Ejector Rod head. It is also missing the sear & cylinder stop tension spring and cylinder stop. And Numrich doesn't have any of the parts I need in stock. So I am going to have to go hunting. But thanks for the help on identifying this revolver. Now I know what parts I need to get.
Also on the same subject. I was told I can't run modern 38 special rounds through it. That it uses the old black powder 38 rounds. Does anyone know were I can find the old black powder 38 rounds that won't break the bank to get them?

Ps thanks Jim I did look at the Colt parts link

Steve
 
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Yeah, .38 Long Colt only. No .38 Special. There are specialty sellers out there like Buffalo Arms that have components, and you can check Gunbroker and similar for ammo (prepare for sticker shock). I actually gathered a fair supply of .41 Long Colt. For my .41, I loaded some blackpowder rounds. Even for those, I will test them in an old Army Special I have, and then I'll do some hard thinking before I touch one off in a 137 year old pistol. In addition to the "Lightning" and "Thunderer" (and "Rainmaker" for a mythical .32) nicknames (Colt didn't use them), the 1877 was known as the "gunsmith's favorite" because they brought in lots of business. Good luck with your project.
 
Besides the obsolte .38 Long Colt chambering and requiring black powder rounds, the other problem you're likely going to run into with this gun is that it is very likely chambered for the heeled-bullet version of the cartridge.

That means that the bullet looks like a mushroom, with a bigger cap on top and a stem that fits down into the case. The cap is the same diameter as the outside of the brass, about .370 and change, IIRC.

As far as I know, no one makes that type of round for .38 Long Colt anymore. The only solution is to load hollow base wad cutters intended for .38 Special.

The propellant gas will expand the hollow base of the bullet, giving you at least a fighting chance of getting passable accuracy.
 
Indeed, Buffalo Arms has blackpowder .38 Long Colt in stock for about $31 per 50. They appear to be the hollow base sub-bore rounds. I can attest to what a pain the heeled bullets can be. For one thing, they are externally lubed. FWIW, the hollow base bullets work pretty well in the .41. The "skirt" expands to fit the rifling like a minie ball.
 
Just for a point of reference...

Around the time that bullets were transitioning from heel-base externally lubricated to modern inside lubricated bullets, there was a transition period in which we saw....

modern style bullets with grease grooves above the case mouth.

That's right, externally lubricated modern bullet.

Didn't last long, fortunately.
 
It is common, indeed normal, for these guns to have something mechanically wrong with them when found these days. It wasn't mechanically a very good design (although they did sell a lot of them) and the primitive metallurgy of the day didn't help.
I got reasonably good results with this cartridge loading .38 HBWCs (though they are still tipping slightly)
 
modern style bullets with grease grooves above the case mouth.

That's right, externally lubricated modern bullet.
Click to expand...

I assume by "modern style" you mean a groove diameter bullet seated in a larger cartridge case.
But yes, the .44 Russian came out with outside lubricated bullets.
Not to mention the weird "self lubricating bullet" with grease in an internal chamber to be squished out holes ahead of the bearing surface by chamber pressure.
 
When the Army adopted the Model 1892 Colt, they designed a cartridge having a .357" inside lubricated bullet because they didn't want to have problems with the bullet lube picking up dirt.

Unfortunately, Colt made the guns with straight-bored chambers and a bore diameter of .363". Not too surprisingly, the guns didn't shoot very well.

Jim
 
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