Lot 48

Antique Colt Etched Panel Model 1877 Lightning Revolver with Box

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Antique Colt Etched Panel Model 1877 Lightning Revolver with Box

Estimate: $12,000 - $18,000

Starting Bid: $10,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Extraordinary Antique Colt Etched Panel Model 1877 Lightning Double Action Revolver with Very Scarce and Highly Desirable Original Picture Box Over time, a select few guns have become essentially synonymous with the "Wild West" period of the American frontier, forming legacies as iconic as the heroes and villains who carried them. One such gun was Colt's "Double Action Pistol", also known as the Model 1877. The 1877 was Colt's first double action revolver. As time went on, one of Colt's largest distributors, Benjamin Kittredge & Company, gave these revolvers catchy marketing nicknames, much like they had already done with the Single Action Army revolver, affectionately known as "The Peacemaker". These 1877s were offered in three different calibers and thus Kittredge gave them corresponding nicknames, calling the .32 caliber variant "Rainmaker", the .38 caliber variant like this one "Lightning", and the .41 caliber variant "Thunderer". Kittredge was one of Colt's primary western distributors, handling large volume orders of Colt's guns that were destined for the West. Between the attention grabbing nicknames and the advantages the model offered, Colt's Model 1877 became a commercial success. Sales were particularly strong on the frontier where the primary mode of travel remained on horseback, giving the "Lightning" the distinct advantage of ease of firing with one hand from the saddle. With such large numbers of these Model 1877s having been shipped westward and seeing many years of hard use, examples of these iconic frontier firearms in outstanding condition are few and far between on today's collector market, leaving extraordinary examples like this one extremely desirable. Manufactured in 1888, this is a truly extraordinary example of Colt's Model 1877 "Lightning" revolver. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address, while the left has "COLT D.A. 38" in the highly desirable and extremely crisp etched panel. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates, and the left of the trigger guard is marked "38 CAL". The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, while the assembly number "26" is on the loading gate. The inside of both grip panels are hand-inscribed with the initials "AGB". It is fitted with a blade front sight, frame-top groove rear sight, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops. Included with the revolver is the extremely scarce original factory picture box with the lid showing imagery of a Lightning revolver, the Rampant Colt, and the .38 Long Colt cartridge, while the matching serial number is hand-marked on the bottom.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1877

BBL: 6 inch round

Gauge: 38 Long Colt

Finish: nickel

Grips: hard rubber

Serial Number70485

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection; A Private Collection
  • Condition: Excellent, retains 95% of the original nickel plating and 97% of the bright original nitre blue with a minor patch of flaking on the lower right frame and toe of the butt, and an extremely crisp etched panel. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering and imagery. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with distinct text and imagery, moderate wear, a few minor tears, and most of the original labeling remaining. If you are in search of an outstanding example of the Colt "Lightning" revolver for their collection of frontier or 19th century American arms, search no further!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000